Nightmare neighbour

It is, and all avenues are worth exploring. But we've had many years of lip service visits and empty promises from housing and environmental health officers. And no fewer than three local councillors, when we've asked them to intervene. And we heard nothing at all from Shelter, when we reported our empty house on their website (when that was an option). I hope the powers that be are more proactive in your area, OP.

I have recently read in the local paper that Bedford Borough council are finding owners and compulsory purchasing boarded up or discarded houses in the area. They are refurbishing them to help with the housing shortages.

We have been looking to purchase a bungalow in the Nottinghamshire area. We mentioned to the estate agent today that we had noticed two more properties in the same road empty and the next road had a bungalow that was boarded up, (it looked if it had been boarded up for quite some time looking at the garden and the state of the boards on the windows. He told us that he had been in the area for about 35 years and he knew of one property that had stood empty for all that time. On driving back along the road we noticed another bungalow with boarded up windows right next door to the first, we had not seen it the first time because of the height of the hedge. It was obvious the property we saw today had been empty for some time as the curtains were falling into holes as they hung on the poles.

Best of luck with your problem.

Thanks for all the advice and it seems I'm not the only one .... did I mention he also has bats in the eves of his roof?
I have on occasion become desperate and tackled what I can - but now most are the size of trees and I would need a week and help - I'm also concerned at cost of patiny some one to come and do it as over a year it will just grow back!
Would any of you recommend a strong weed killer for ivy? That would be a start.

Blimey, the bats might be another complication - aren't they protected? You're sure your neighbour's not Uncle Fester, Deni?

I know this will not solve your problem.But it sounds like your neighbour is depressed.By what you are describing it sounds like he does not care what is around him.

He is 50 yrs old well able to tackle a Garden.I am wondering if you could approach him with concern and ask he if he is well,and start there.Just a thought.

We currently have our very old house up for sale...we are attached to our neighbour as year ago the house was one.
He is a Gardner ,,,would you believe, but his garden is completely overgrown ..lee have a 50 ft bay tree looming over our garden and a 50 ft rickety pine tree also sways about in the wind over looking our garden . His garden is overrun with foxes, and 4 years ago we had 7 foxes that used to come over from his garden and play on our lawn...as he has none! We paid over 1000 pounds to have a 8 ft high fence put up as his fence fell down...we did approach him about it but got now where. Anyway as I say our house up for sale...saw him a while ago and asked him if he would like me to tidy up his fron garden if he was finding it a bit much..he's my age, by the way ..l,late fifties....he said he would do it ..all he did was pull up bramble and weeds and push them more over to his side of the house away from our steps. So after a few days myself and husband tidied it up .....looks better . It's a tiny fron peice.not really a garden...anyway it looked better. Never a word about it from him.
Prospective buyers have questioned us about the house etc...we say ..oh the chap comes back every so often but is mostly down at his parents. It's a nitemare and don't know where will end.
I did see him go out one day and popped round and looked through kitchen window.....well I can't begin to say what it was like......absolutely filthy!!!!!!!!

Yes bats are protected! Every night at dusk they swoop!
He isn't depressed - he goes off to Canada alot to see a girlfriend - it's pointless me writing another letter only to be ignored - I think come Winter when it isn't so bad I will have to pay someone with his permission - if I knew when he went away it wouldn't be so bad - and yes the inside of his house is just as bad.......

We had friends who had a detached house right next to another detached house, that over the years had become appalling ( the owner had mental health problems.) The council couldn't do anything, he was not any kind of risk to neighbours, and slowly all the window frames rotted and a small tree grew over the front door.What it was like inside is anybody's guess ( shudder) and they had to sell by reducing the price, but worth it to get away from the awful property.