Three empty homes which had been left to go to wrack and ruin are being brought back up to standard after finally being sold.

The properties, two located on Fletton Avenue and one on Lynton Road in New England, were high on the priority list due to their condition and the effect they were having on the immediate community. The properties were empty for between five and seven years.

One home was in such a state of disrepair, that when eventually sold, half of the property was smothered in ivy which was entering its loft space. The property fell victim to squatting and theft, and had been severely vandalised, including the majority of the copper piping being ripped out and stolen.

City council officers negotiated with the then owners and served notices of improvement and in one of the cases an application for the enforced sale of the property.

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The notices of improvement led the owners to place the properties on the market and have since been sold. Renovation work is now expected to take around six to 12 months, varying for each property.

There are currently approximately 380 privately owned, long term empty homes in Peterborough. To qualify as a long term empty home, the property must have been left empty for six months or more. Each empty home has its own reason for lying empty, such as probate procedures, lack of finance or absent owners.

Adam Cliff, Empty Homes Officer for Peterborough City Council, said: "Due to the condition of the building, the whole property was boarded up, taking it from being an unsightly and unloved house, to a complete eyesore.

"Many people would see the property on their way to work as it is positioned on one of the main roads into the city.

"Allowing properties to deteriorate into such a condition, is entirely unacceptable and I am thrilled to see refurbishment work start to take place to improve all three of these buildings. Whilst enforcement action can be brought upon owners in extreme cases of empty properties, it is rarely used due to the length of time it takes and the overall process. Nonetheless, it is still an option for us when the owners are unwilling to take action on something that is ultimately their responsibility."

(CD/IT)