‘Abandoned’ house worries neighbour
HIGHLANDS NORTH - Highlands North neighbour raised his infuriation about an ‘Abandoned house’ in his neighbourhood.
Maurizio Sabbioni said it appeared that the property next door to him had been abandoned. Sabbioni said the owner – whose name appears on the notice from the city council for service payments in arrears – had not been there for months. He said, “A lot of rubbish is piling up on the pavement, a number of cats have been left behind and soon enough some vagrants are going to try and move in and the situation will then become a security issue.”
The owner of the property, who asked not to be named, said the house had not been abandoned and regular bond payments were made which could be confirmed with her bank. She said, “It is not tenanted due to problems experienced with the City of Johannesburg’s billing department. No decent tenant can stay when the electricity is switched off on such a regular basis and no end is in sight on the matter with the City’s lawyers”.
She said she would get a contractor to clean the pavement of the property and that her cats were with her.
Ward 74 councillor Jack Cooper said in many cases owners leave their properties for various reasons, and if there were no tenants or security the present situation arises. Cooper said, “Often the rates and services aren’t paid and the property degenerates into an undesirable eyesore as well as a danger to the community. These abandoned properties are often populated by vagrants and drug dealers. One should refer the matter to environmental health and illegal land use departments. This particular property is probably heading that way and if reported the City may not do anything until it is really bad.”
Cooper said the City would have to trace the owner and take steps against them. He said if the owner couldn’t be traced that might result in a bad situation getting worse. “The City would have to apply for an order of court to compel the owner to clean up the property.”
