Residents of the street in Linwood, Renfrewshire say the ‘poorly maintained’ house makes their area ‘look bad’ – and claim the owner has been ‘nowhere to be seen’ for half a decade
Neighbours on a quiet street have spoken of their fury after an empty home was left to ‘rot’.
Residents of Braidwood Place in Linwood, Renfrewshire have branded the state of the house a “disgrace” – and have laid the blame at the homeowner, who they say has been “nowhere to be seen” for almost half a decade. In recent times, the property is said to have became a ‘dumping ground’ and is deteriorating rapidly, according to neighbours, who say it has given them “sleepness nights”.
No-one has been able to get in touch with the owner of the property to sort out the issues, while the local council say they do not have the legal power to carry out any improvements.
Rosaleen Mulvey, who lives next door, said she was “fed up” with the situation. She said: “The property has been in a state of deterioration for five or six years.
“It is a real eyesore and the messy garden reflects badly on the street even though it is not the fault of anyone who actually lives in their property.
“Having this deteriorating property beside me is starting to affect me on a daily basis, whether it be the dripping water making it difficult to sleep at night or the fly-tipping attracting unwanted animals.
“I have lived in this house since 1979 and have worked hard to keep my home nice.
“For the owner of the property next door to leave it in such a state is a disgrace.”
Rosaleen also feels the “poorly maintained” house makes the street “look bad”.
She said that “water drips down all the time at the back and front of the property from the roof”, which “can get particularly noisy when we have heavy rain.”
Out-of-control vegetation has become another problem, and Rosaleen added: “The garden is like a jungle with the overgrown grass and weeds. I have been talking to the council, Environmental Health, the water board and just about everyone you can think of to try and resolve this.
“Unfortunately, none of them have been able to help me so far.
“I am worried about potential dampness in the future as well. It feels inevitable I will experience it at some point.”
Renfrewshire Council said they have made the owner aware of the issues the property is causing to other residents.
Locals say they do not have any means to get in touch with the person responsible for the house, with a phone number and current address for the owner unavailable.
Brian McVey, another resident of Braidwood Place, also expressed concerns about the property.
He said: “I have lived in the street for 47 years and this is the worst I have seen any house in the area. The garden is overgrown and has turned into a dumping ground.
“It is unfair to those who live beside it and it looks like things will only get worse. I pass the house every morning and it is sad to see it being abandoned. Everyone else takes care of their gardens.”
Chris Pettifer, who also lives on the street, added: “Unfortunately, the front garden has become a hotbed for fly-tipping and it is an absolute disgrace. It is an environmental health hazard and a real eyesore.
“Something has to be done to improve the situation. The water pouring out the front is such a waste and must be a hassle for those who live beside the property.”
Renfrewshire Council said: “We are aware of this property and have made the owner aware of the issues being highlighted by residents.
“Our Environmental Health team has undertaken various investigations at the property but there have been no circumstances where enforcement action could be taken to secure improvements to it.
“We are aware of the impact empty properties can have on local communities.
“Owners of empty properties can call our More Homes Officer on 07811 055 016 or email [email protected] to receive advice and assistance to help them bring their properties back into use.”