THIS house has been derelict and overgrown for the past eight years but there's nothing the council can do about it, the Mirror can reveal.
The front garden of the semi-detached property is overrun with brambles and rats, the front door is virtually inaccessible and the back garden resembles a jungle.
But the house in Church Road, Warlingham, has fallen into an increasingly desolate state because the owner is still paying council tax on it – and it has not been put up for sale.
And Tandridge District Council will only consider stepping in and compulsorily purchasing the building if it was deemed a threat to near-neighbours.
Diana Andrews, who lives across the road, said: "Its an eyesore which has got worse and worse. It's infested with vermin. A rat ran over my feet a few months ago as I was in a next-door neighbour's garden.
"If I ever wanted to sell my house, who would want it?"
She said the property had remained empty since the female occupier died around eight years ago.
Mrs Andrews said the woman has two children – a son who lives in America and a daughter based in South Croydon.
Ian Lunt, who lives next door to the derelict house, said: "It's like a time warp and must be a fire risk. Parts of the guttering and roof tiles have fallen off. The house is a disgrace."
He added his garden gets inundated with weed seeds blown over from next door's back garden.
Warlingham district councillor Simon Morrow said: "Its a desperate situation that this property is sitting there empty and in such a bad state. The problem is that the owner is happy to pay council tax on the house and doesn't want to sell up.
"It's a very difficult situation for neighbouring residents. It must be very irritating that a perfectly good house is not being lived in."
Mr Morrow said he had raised the issued with Tandridge District Council's housing department.
But he said the council is strapped for cash and would not be able to buy up this property.
The Mirror traced the son – Richard Siddall – who is a computer programmer in the USA. He was invited to comment, but no reply was received by the time we went to press.
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