Investigation into 'eyesore' Knutsford house left empty for 20 years

Residents on Beechwood in Knutsford say they are ‘at the end of their tether’ living beside such ‘an eyesore’.

The four-bedroom property at number 8 Beechwood has fallen into a dilapidated state after being unoccupied for nearly two decades.

Rain seeps into the house as there are no slates on the roof and a temporary tarpaulin covering has distintegrated.

There are no slates on the roof

Windows are broken and the fascia on the guttering is falling off.

Bags of abandoned building materials lie strewn among discarded rubbish in an overgrown garden.

READ > Police investigating after dogs attacked by Alsatian in Mobberley

Cracks have appeared at the top of the rear gable wall.

The front garden is overgrown and strewn with building debris

Fencing beside a public footpath is falling apart.

Leylandii trees in the back garden had to be cut down, say residents, because they were obstructing power lines.

Bags of building materials and debris are strewn across the front garden

Anxious neighbours say they have seen vermin scurrying from the property and a fire has caused damage at the rear of the property.

People living on the street are also concerned about youths seen in the grounds causing anti-social behaviour.

Despite constant complaints to Cheshire East Council over the years, residents say ‘no one is listening to them’.

Guttering is falling off and fencing beside a footpath is falling apart

One resident told The Guardian: “It is unbelievable.

“Cheshire East Council is supposed to be concerned about bringing empty houses back into use yet this house has been empty for almost 20 years.

“We are at the end of our tether.”

Another resident said: “It is just a bad mess. Water pours in when it rains.

“We have seen rats and foxes.

The property is beside two public footpaths

“Similar properties on this street sell for around £600,000. This could provide a much-needed family home.”

Another resident added: “We just can’t understand why nothing is being done.

“There have been various planning applications but there seems to be no strategy for getting this property back into a habitable state.

“It is a shambles.”

This is the front garden of the unoccupied property

A spokesman for Cheshire East Council said: “The council’s planning enforcement team is now re-investigating this matter and is unable to comment further pending the outcome of this investigation.

“Concerning council tax, the council does not comment on the council tax affairs of individual residents.

“However, it can confirm that, in specific circumstances, it does charge premium council tax on properties that have been empty and substantially unfurnished for more than two years.”

The council’s policy states that a 400 per cent council tax can be levied on properties left empty for 10 years or more.