Council set to take over slum house (From Oxford Mail)

Council set to take over slum house

9:00am Wednesday 8th December 2010 in News By Dan Hearn

IS THIS the worst house in Oxford?

The city council could for the first time be forced to take over a rat-infested house which has been empty for 15 years.

The house in Weirs Lane has blighted the neighbourhood near Abingdon Road with bags of rubbish, broken glass and dumped furniture strewn across the garden.

Neighbours said the back is “like a forest” with rats and mice scuttling all across the area and last night the council said enough is enough.

Now its owner has been told he has two months to put the property on the market or submit a planning application to tidy up the house or the council will step in.

It is the first time the Town Hall has issued an Empty Dwelling Management Order since the powers came into force in 2004.

And means it could take over running of the property for seven years and move in a council tenant.

Qaiser Naveed, 30, has lived next door to the semi-detached home for 12 months.

He said: “It really is in a disgusting state. The front garden is bad, but the back is even worse.

“It is full of rats and mice and other creatures and looks like a forest. It has got worse in the short time we have been here and nothing has been done to improve it.”

The community also pointed out it is living with the derelict Fox and Hounds pub, which could soon become a Tesco store, but has been blighted by arson and left to mothball.

Mr Naveed said: “As well as this house, we also have the Fox and Hounds in front of us, which also looks terrible, although at least it looks like it could soon become a Tesco.

“I think everyone around here will welcome the council’s intervention because something really needs to be done soon.”

Another neighbour added: “It brings down the whole area. There are families living around here and having rats and foxes around is revolting.

“There are real hygiene issues here.”

Property service houseprices.co.uk said similar homes in the area could be worth around £175,000.

The council was given the go-ahead by a Residential Property Tribunal in September to issue the order after receiving complaints about rodents, which was served on November 1.

Officers had previously spent three years urging the owner – listed as a Peter Horn in tribunal documents – to renovate the house.

Councillor Joe McManners, board member for housing, said: “I am disappointed that we have had to go down this route.

“Empty dwellings can blight the local community and can bring about fear of crime, be subject to vandalism and squatting. They can also be unsightly and impact on the value of an adjoining or neighbouring property.

“However, more importantly, housing is in short supply in Oxford and empty dwellings are a wasted home for a much-needed family.”

The Oxford Mail has tried unsuccessfully to contact Mr Horn.