Worried locals have revealed their horrifying experience of living next to a rat-infested building site that has been abandoned for months.
The half-finished house in leafy Solihull sold at auction for £600,000 on September 5.
An official listing describes it as a ‘rare and incredible opportunity’ with a 46ft open-plan living space, a double garage and spacious rooms on the SDL Property Auctions site.
But those living on Portia Avenue in Shirley have slammed the ‘horrendous’ building which has led to a sprawling infestation of rats and foxes in the area.
They claim passersby have been dumping their rubbish at the site and are worried that new occupants and their cars will ‘overrun’ the limited space on the street.
Worried locals have revealed their horrifying experience of living next to a rat-infested building site
The half-finished house in leafy Solihull sold at auction for £600,000 on September 5
But those living on Portia Avenue in Shirley are concerned the ‘horrendous’ building has led to an infestation of rats and foxes in the area
Carole Martin, 74, said the house belonged to an elderly couple called Jack and Betty and it was sold in 2020 after Jack died.
Carole said: ‘It annoys me that the council don’t do anything to help us with it.
‘I’ve seen rats coming down here and lots of foxes. To leave a property like that is a disgrace.
‘There have been people who have been dumping their rubbish in there. It’s bad but at least it’s out of the way and not on the street.’
She continued: ‘We have people come around and they can’t believe how big it was. If you go around the back, it’s even bigger.
‘How can somebody do that? This road is like a carpark every single day of the week.
‘If it’s a six-bed property where do all the cars go. The council said it had two garages, but the garages don’t exist.’
Another local, John, 75, bought his home, which looks out onto the abandoned property, 30 years ago.
Locals are worried the site could turn into a car park and could overrun the area
They added that it has been swarmed by rats and foxes (file photo)
John said: ‘It’s a carbuncle. It’s horrendous is what it is. We’re worried about it being turned into flats or having multiple people living there. It’s a genuine worry.
‘I don’t what to say other than it’s a massive carbuncle on the area as a whole.’
Others said that the site has been getting worse for around a year – and no action has been taken.
Valerie Brookes, 89, has lived in her house on Portia Avenue for over 60 years. She said: ‘It’s disgraceful. It’s been in that state for the whole of this year I would say.
‘I have a friend who lives in School Road and she had rats and the council out six times now.’
A woman who lived several houses down from the abandoned property said it would end up like an NCP carpark if work gets completed.
The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘The house sold for £600k, we were on holiday. I think it sold on September 5.
‘We had foxes and rats along the street. The back of the garden is ridiculous. There were foxes jumping along our fences from the house.
An official listing described the property as a ‘rare and incredible opportunity’ but locals have hit back at the true condition of the site
‘Just the other night I saw six foxes come into my garden from that house and laze about.’
The original listing read: ‘A rare and incredible opportunity to buy an immense property in the sought after area of Shirley.
‘Planning has been confirmed and the property has been taken back to brick, the extensions are in place and significant time and monies have already been spent.
‘The property has an atrium to the front and boasts 6/7 bedrooms, five bathrooms, separate lounge, a 46ft open plan living space with access to the rear garden as well as double garage, multiple parking spaces on a very generous corner plot.
‘Location is within walking distance to Shirley high street, local amenities and transport links are plentiful and second to none. Sought after location and a superb opportunity to create your own dream home or complete the works and sell on.
‘Our vendor has been advised by local estate agents that once the property has been completed it will command a price in excess of £1,000,000.’
MailOnline has contacted Solihull Council for more information.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
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