'Eyesore' house irks neighbours

Neighbour Neil Harrison says this derelict Glendene house attracts vandals and street kids. Photo / The Aucklander

A heavily tagged, unoccupied house in west Auckland has infuriated neighbours and exposed loopholes in council rules, The Aucklander reports.

The state of the Glendene house, adjacent to a reserve, has been raised with the Waitakere City Council and with the New Lynn Community Board repeatedly.

Neighbour Neil Harrison says the house has been an eyesore for five years. Although the lawns are mowed, the house is in ruin. Grass grows in the gutters. Half the windows are broken; the other half are boarded over. Graffiti splatters the house.

The Te Atatu truck driver says the house is detrimental to the neighbourhood and is used by squatters when it rains. "But there's a bigger issue with this house," he explains.

"There's no standard that a house has to be kept up to, and people can do what they like. I think there needs to be a standard - a national standard for housing."

Council staff have visited the property many times. The landowners are in breach of the district plan because the house is not secure and an abatement notice has been issued to them, says council spokeswoman Lisah Henry.

"The abatement notice requires the owner to tidy up the property. A 'dangerous and insanitary building' notice under the Building Act 2004 has also been issued that required the owner to board up the dwelling to prevent unauthorised entry," said Ms Henry.

Mr Harrison labels the council's actions as "token".

For the full story, see today's West edition of The Aucklander or go to http://www.theaucklander.co.nz