DrewHill

Responding to a call at a Thai Restaurant where a fuse box was "arking"

I've heard rumours of a new chef too, but don't know if they're true. Would make this already great pub even better IMHO.

I know they sold the premises and moved out a few weeks ago. Not sure if they are still trading though

Had the meter readers round 3 weeks ago. Just got a bill with estimated meter readings. Asked NPower why they had estimated my gas and electricity consumption considering they had read the meters just recently. "It may not have been one of our guys" was the answer. "Who else would want to read my meter" I asked. "Because we don't own the meters, sometimes other companies read the meters, but they don't pass the information on to us" came the answer. Another example of stunning efficiency in a highly priced energy market...

For those of you without ?2000 spare, Eliza is holding an album launch at Madame Jojo;s on 9th June. Limited tickets are available through her website www.eliza-carthy.com for ?20 including a copy of her new album "Dreams of Breathing Underwater". She'll be playing with her excellent band, plus a few others too

Last post on this thread (I hope), to keep those that have asked updated. Having contacted the Empty Home Initiative on Siduhe's suggestion yesterday, I've already received a more than satisfactory reply. They confirmed that they are aware of this property and have revisited the site today and have been in contact with the agents dealing with the property on the owners behalf. An application for demolition and reconstruction of the front bay has been approved by the councils Building Control Section, and currently a planning application in this regard has also been submitted. Once planning has been approved (this takes on average 8 weeks), contractors will start works on property to bring the property back into use. The property is properly shorn up, and the site secured and is being overseen by structural engineers. Fences are constructed to ensure people do not walk too close to the property's boundaries. They appreciated the property is an eyesore at the moment, but all steps are being taken to get to the stage to start works on repairing the whole of the front facade and steps and enabling the property to be reoccupied. I thought it only right to post my more than positive experience in dealing with the council and this specific dept, and encourage others in a similar situation to do the same.

Once again, great post Siduhe. I've made contact with the council and they have forwarded my concern on to the Empty Dwellings Management team. Very happy with the speed of response from Cllr Humphreys. The issue now seems to lie in the fact that other neighbours seem to think the owner moved abroad some time ago. Thus, it may prove difficult for the council to make contact with him. Perhaps Skipton Building society, the mortgage company listed on the land registry website as having an interest in the property, have some responsibility? My suspicion of subsidence comes from the fact that my house, just round the corner, has been underpinned in the last 10 years. Oh, and am lucky enough to have a surveyor in the family. May well try and twist an arm to take a look at the house in question.

Hi Rob, I've amended my original post to include the word "empty", as the house is uninhabited, and has been for some time now due to the state of disrepair it's currently in.

Thanks Sidhue, that's just what I was looking for. This thread is an advert for just how useful this forum can be. Can I ask, if the council agree that a nuisnace is being caused, which I believe it is under sections 79 (1) (a) & (b) in the above link, and an abatement order is served, what powers do the council have to act to remedy the nuisance in the absence of the owner?

Thanks Nero. That is the next step in my plan. Wondered if anybody knows of any particular legislation that can be used. Surely I can't just let my house cave in, to the detriment of my neighbours houses. I'm sure if I painted my house, a victorian terrace, bright pink the council would intervene. To Benjaminty's point, when I say scaffolding, thats what it looks like to me. Not being a structural engineer, I couldn't say if tie bars are being used. It's just a mess and also a hazard. A few times I've caught kids playing on the bars. If one was to get injured, who's responsibility would that be? Surely the owner has a duty of care to protect people on their property.

I wonder if anyone can offer any advice on how one might get an empty neighbouring house in the area, currently in a dramatic state of disrepair, repaired to a decent condition, especially when the owner seems to have no regard for the condition the house is in. In the two roads next to where I live, there are currently 2 houses being propped up with scaffolding, I assume due to issues with subsidence. To my knowledge, they've been like this for at least a year. Do the owners have any duty of care to their neighbours? As a homeowner, does one not have a responsibility to keep the outside of one's property in a state of decent repair? Especially in a row of terraced houses. I'd really like to know if there is anything we can do to bring about some action from either the owners or the council, so as to clean up the whole area. Houses covered in scaffolding are an eyesore for the whole community. Would a building society / bank, with an interest in the property through a mortgage, have any responsibility perhaps?

New to the area, although technically SE5 and not SE22, and wondering how I might get hold of the Lettsom Gardens Association. Does anybody have contact details, as a quick search on google hasn't helped?