Homeowners in one of London's most exclusive neighbourhoods are facing a property nightmare as a neighbour's neglected house and rampant Japanese knotweed infestation threaten to make their million-pound homes unsellable.
The £3.7 Million Street Blighted by Knotweed
Residents on a prestigious street in south-west London where properties regularly sell for over £1 million - with one terraced home fetching £3.7 million just two years ago - say their investments are being destroyed by a single neglected property. The home belonging to former councillor Nicholas Halbritter, 75, has become the source of years of frustration for locals who claim it's directly impacting their house prices.
Christine Gambles, 69, who has lived on the street for 25 years, finds herself in an impossible situation. Since her husband passed away four years ago, she can no longer afford to maintain her home but cannot sell it either. "I have had to take out a mortgage at 69 years old," she revealed. "Nobody will buy a house when you are in a dispute with your neighbour, so I am stuck."
Two Decades of Neglect and Legal Battles
The problems surrounding Mr Halbritter's property are not new. In 2017, he was prosecuted at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) for failing to comply with a notice containing ten conditions, including tackling Japanese knotweed in his rear garden and clearing rubbish from the basement and garden areas.
Despite this legal action, residents say the situation has only worsened. The invasive Japanese knotweed has now grown to nearly 10 feet high and continues to spread unchecked. "The council say that we have to prove it has invaded our property for them to fix it, but it would be underground," explained Ms Gambles. "I thought as soon as council's heard the word knotweed they would do something, but they still haven't. It has been going on for 20 years."
Multiple Health and Safety Hazards
The complaints extend far beyond the knotweed issue. Neighbours report numerous other problems creating what they describe as an "awful" living environment:
- Foxes breeding in the basement with loud mating calls disturbing residents
- A burst mains pipe that has been leaking for two years, creating dampness and mosquito swarms
- Water damage affecting adjacent properties, with one resident's wall turning mouldy
- A decomposing body was removed from the basement three years ago, creating unbearable smells
- General dereliction making the property an "eyesore" for the entire street
Nik Hoexter, who has lived opposite the property for forty years, described the constant sound of flowing water. "There has been water running constantly for two years. They could fill a swimming pool by now. The dampness will disintegrate the foundations of our houses."
Council Response Draws Criticism
Local MP Ben Coleman has joined residents in criticising RBKC's handling of the situation. "I really feel for the residents. There are rats and mould is forming on neighbours' walls," he said. "They have tried so hard to get the council to do something. They seem to just keep making excuses for not doing what they should be doing."
Mr Coleman, who served as a councillor for ten years, added: "I don't know why the officers are not exhausting all the powers available to deal with this. I think they should be looking again and listening to the residents."
Despite multiple complaints and meetings with affected residents, the council maintains its position. A spokesperson for Kensington and Chelsea Council stated: "We have met with neighbours of this property on many occasions and taken complaints seriously. Both our planning enforcement and environmental health teams have exhausted their powers and provided advice to the property owner."
The council emphasised that there is a "very high bar for enforcement action on private property" and suggested residents "may wish to pursue alternative options, such as civil action."
Meanwhile, Mr Halbritter, who has owned the property for over 40 years according to land documents, continues to avoid engagement with his neighbours. Attempts to contact him for comment by both residents and media have been unsuccessful.
