Partially abandoned Strubens Valley house causing a concerning eyesore for residents
Adjacent property owned by same couple occupied but equally derelict
Private ownership and personal pride warp the definition of responsibility.
Situated halfway up Almond Rock Avenue, the exteriors of two properties stick out like smudged mascara on the face of a beauty queen. With one abandoned for over two years and the other having a parasitic relationship with the other, onlooking residents have hit the proverbial brick wall.
Residents in the immediate vicinity are concerned both for the aesthetic deterioration and the potential physical threats. The top few layers of bricks from the main road-boundary wall have partially been removed, creating concerns that the property could become a thoroughfare for criminality. The dry and derelict surrounds are a fire hazard, and noticeable from a neighbour’s backyard, the dividing wall between the properties was knocked down to create an access point for a massive New Year’s Eve party.
The hole in the wall that turned the property into a party venue. Photo: Jarryd Westerdale.Neighbours have not seen any lights from one of the properties for over a year but have noticed someone living in the shed that borders their wall.They also suspect rats have been breeding on the property, as they have repeatedly seen the rodents on their side of the wall before they scurry away toward the derelict building. The same neighbour stated how she used to breed quail, but the rats invaded and they have not had any birds for almost a year.
Both properties are owned by the same couple and when contacted, the wife was adamant that other than being reminded to cut the grass, her neighbours had not raised the complaints with her.Neighbours dispute this as they have archived WhatsApp messages showing conversations dating back to March 2019. A business owner on the street claimed to have offered to help maintain the exterior of the house – offers they said where sternly rejected.
“By-laws can not dictate the level of maintenance a property owner has to do,” stated property-law expert from SSLR Incorporated, Cilna Steyn. Ward 85 councillor Zoné Niemand concurred, adding, “Unfortunately there is no ordinance that compels a resident to maintain a property.”
The owner is upset at the level of attention given to the houses and is frustrated at the constant calls from estate agents who she believes call her under false pretences. She claims to be open to discussion, but many claim to have already been on the receiving end of a tongue-lashing.
Residents stated they care not for the personas involved, they simply want a neat and tidy street.
