Nightmare neighbour

Maybe start with local Council?

Could you ask him face to face or is he a total recluse?

I agree ask the local council's advice.

Unfortunately there is nothing you can do unless your own property is being affected - roof tiles missing on his side that are allowing water into your property or such like. I really feel sorry for you as there is no doubt the state of his house will be a very definite turn off for anyone looking at yours. It's possible the local council could have a word with him but really we are all free to live in hovels if we choose to.

The neighbour facing us has let his property fall into disrepair, the garden is growing through the windows and everywhere is an eyesore. We contacted the council and they came and took photographs, weeks later they told us there was nothing they could as he owned the house. Another neighbour took a pair of secateurs to tree branches that were right across the pavement and catching on clothing as people passed. This man refuses to be shamed and it has spoilt the look of the street.
A house for sale next door but one to me is not getting viewers through the door as they drive up the street and see what is opposite and some don't even get out of the car.

I wonder where I would stand if I paid someone to come with a chainsaw?!!

You would still need his permission unfortunately as the person with the chainsaw would be on private land. It is very tempting.

Do you ever see him? Does he have any relatives that you could approach?

How about telling the council you "saw" some rats! That is a health issue and the council have to make him deal with it (I believe)

Not sure that the 'rat' tactic would work in getting things tidy - it may just mean that they put poison down.

I feel for your predicament - I had problems years ago with noisy neighbours and it really is a nightmare. Sadly there is a downside in complaining because you will need to disclose any disputes with neighbours when you come to sell. Can you ask the estate agents if they know of any route by which he can be approached?

Good luck, Deni. The terrace house a couple of doors from ours has been empty for 16 years and looks similar. We and other neighbours hack down the foliage that fills its front yard and covers the doors and windows and the pavement in front, and reaches into the gutters. It's been reported so many times to the council over the last few years, since it started to deteriorate badly. They pop out sporadically to stare at it and assure us they are in touch with the owner, and it will be back in use shortly (though one local councillor advised that one of the next door neighbours should just squat in it, to extend their own house ). The owner turns up a couple of days after each council visit and hacks down a bit of the greenery, glares at any of us that may be around, then beggars off for a few more months. I once glanced up to see that the bottom of the rotten frame of his wide open bathroom window had broken off, the pane of glass had slipped down and was hanging above my head over the pavement. The council came out and boarded up the window. I hope they invoiced the owner.

Could you have a quiet word and offer to help , perhaps he simply can't cope

There is an old school building in our village which has been left to go to ruin. The owner refuses to do anything to it or sell the land for building (it would get Planning Permission) because of some dispute that is lost in the mists of time - he applied for permission for one thing that was turned down and so he dug in his heels. We are talking c. 40 years here. Complaints to the council have resulted in it being made safe by boarding it up; but there it stands, a complete mess.

It is a huge shame because the building itself is a gem and would lend itself to upgrading to two homes.

Seems I'm stuck. I was reading that a house like his de values my property by £35,000!
I've written to him politely many times, offered to help, knocked on his door and I'm ignored.
He has a son but in 5 years I've never seen him.
The owner also goes off for months to Canada apparently a girlfriend there, so if he can manage that he should be able to maintain his house !
Desperate ??

Neighbours can be an absolute nightmare question and there is very strange behaviour being displayed. You would think that people would look after what is arguably the largest investment most of us will ever make. I wonder if there is any legal recourse for damages to your own investment.

In my wilder wonderings I do have naughty thoughts going through my head, and whilst I am aware that the op's question included the word legal, I suppose they do have to catch you if it was otherwise! If there were sufficient people in a secret hit squad next time he is in Canada it could be quite improved by the time he returned! As they say the fun is in the plotting!

The problem is that if the garden is sorted and the ivy removed from walls and windows it is just going to highlight the poor state of repair that the windows, doors and walls are. It is a b it of swings and roundabouts.

The house next door to me is permanently rented and from time to time I am out with a bottle of long term weed killer. Could you attack the ivy with that?

The lock up sjop and flat above it, just in front of my home, are unoccupied. The shop for many years and the flat for 4 years. DH & I keep the shop front area clear of weeds but the awning is rotting away on the metal frame over the boarder up door and window. Such a mess! Council not interested!

I have a neighbour who brings old cars and parks them anywhere he can find a space. The latest delightful aquisition is a very old caravan with the top all ripped. Neighbour's are convinced it's to provoke a reaction and as he's known to be violent, we say nothing.

It sounds as though your neighbour may have some kind of illness Deni. Does he go out? It might be worth a visit to the CAB to ask if you have any rights re him keeping his property in better order.

Ginny the op says her neighbour makes frequent long trips to Canada, so yes he does go out.

Deni1963
I would be out with the chainsaw next time he goes to Canada.

I'm with petra. Wear a hi vis vest and nobody will bat an eyelid. Finish off with a few sprays of weed killer. Just as he leaves for his trip obviously.

Is there a neighbourhood mediation scheme? I'm not sure he would attend though. I would be tempted to offer to tidy it up for him as he simply doesn't care does he?

My cousin lived next door to a house that was in decline one day she mowed her front garden and then knocked on their door and very politely asked if she could cut their garden also they just nodded so she went ahead. The next week she was cutting things back and again knocked on the door and asked if she could cut some things back fpr them again they nodded. Its not the answer but she made the front at least look a bit more presentable.

We have a house like this, empty 16 years owner lives elsewhere. We have contacted the Council re empty house complaint. They don't seem to care. Just wonder re housing crisis. In TV show Hoarders. The local authority in US seem to act whether owners or not. It is a semi and the house joined does not seem to care but he has 4 dogs a cat and some other pets so is happy with no neighbour. my neighbour is not happy as she shares an outbuilding and a semi detached garage with him. The garage roof has fallen in. You just wonder re housing crisis how they can allow this to go on.

Hi everyone. I don't know if any of you have watched a programme on tv about the council's housing officers, but similar problems have been highlighted on this programme. In one instance, after years of requests and negotiations, the owner was given the option of sorting out the property (which had been left unoccupied for years) or handing it over to the council. In other cases the housing officer attended and made the owner not only make the property safe but also to clean up the property. It would appear that they do have some powers to make owners at least make properties safe and not encroach on a neighbours property. As you say, rats are a risk and very likely to be 'living' in the neighbours garden. You might also try the Environmental Health department as it can't be a very healthy environment to be next door to.
As for the ivy. The best way is to cut the growing stems/branches as near to the ground as possible, which will result in the ivy dying and making it easier to remove. Copper nails pushed into the base of thick stems will also work in the same way I'm told, although a bit slower, and dare I say, make it less obvious that it has been touched!! This way there is no need for weedkiller on the ivy at least.
Hope this helps and good luck.

A few years ago I watched a TV programme about a man who had a severe hoarding problem which had encroached on to his outside space causing similar problems to what you have. It could be this man has similar issues. I remember on the programme that two men in the village who lived nearby gained his confidence and helped him to sort things out both inside and out. I would think some people are naturally reclusive and don"t realise how their way of living impacts on others,while others do need help maybe severe depression and don"t know were to start as it's all too daunting. Maybe your Citizens Advice could suggest something ....some towns and villages have groups of volunteers who help people keep on top of their gardens ....finding a way to approach him about this may be better done with a friendly knock on the door rather than the letters.