EMPTY and derelict houses some left abandoned by absent landlords for almost a decade have become rat-infested unofficial dump-it sites filled with rubbish according to fed-up neighbours who are calling for action.
Grimethorpe, a village known for a high proportion of unoccupied housing, has once again come under the spotlight this week after residents on Princess Street, Oldroyd Avenue and Raymond Avenue complained about the state of housing.
According to them, some houses have stood empty for almost ten years and other residents have started using their gardens as tips as no-one has taken responsibility.
But this summer’s warm weather and tonnes of fly-tipped waste has encourage a new problem rats which have been plaguing residents on Princess Street in particular.
Dave North, who chairs the village’s crime and safety group, said: “It’s an absolute disgrace and it’s sad to see just how bad the situation has become. People are adding to an already big problem by dumping in their front gardens and it’s nothing less than an eyesore.
“Grimethorpe is looking terrible because of it and it’s about time either the council or the absent landlords should be taking responsibility and did something about the mess.
“There are several houses which have been empty for years, yet nobody seems to want to do anything about it. I’ve never seen it looking as bad.”
The North East Area Council, which is responsible for Grimethorpe, has deployed its private housing enforcement officer, Chris Platts, onto the matter and the Chronicle can reveal that one of the worst-affected property’s landlord has been served with a legal notice which instructs them to make improvements.
Coun Roy Miller, cabinet spokesperson, said: “The council is working to treat the properties concerned and this is currently ongoing.
“It is also looking at how it can help to prevent it from happening again, both in Grimethorpe and across the wider borough.
“This means working with the owners of empty homes to encourage them to bring them back into use and promoting the council’s campaign to reduce fly-tipping.”
Residents have called on the council to buy up the empty housing and replicate the success of the acquisition of 22 homes on nearby Carlton Street, which were refurbished and are now managed by Berneslai Homes.
However, the homes which were notorious for fly-tipping were under the ownership of Yorkshire Housing whereas the current empty homes are privately owned.
Elsie Smith, from Grimethorpe Neighbourhood Watch, said: “The problem with rats has been terrible this summer and it’s a disgusting situation for us who live nearby.
“The problems with derelict housing has gone on for long enough and now there are tables, settees and all sorts of other dumped waste in their gardens.”
Coun Jeff Ennis added: “It’s blighted the village and Grimethorpe is probably the worst in the area it’s a very difficult problem to solve and I wish we could wave a magic wand but these are private properties.
“The purchase of the housing on Carlton Street was different because of that.
“The only thing we can do is get environmental health onto the case in order to tidy up the gardens, but the task group is looking at that and the enforcement officer is working on the problem.
“They have been totally neglected. In some cases their landlords live as far away as Dubai but it’s important these homes are brought back into use and tidied up.”
