Frustrated residents claim their muti-million pound Chelsea homes are unsellable after an ex-Tory councillor let a giant knotweed jungle grow in his back garden.
The state of Nicholas Halbritter’s south-west London property has been a source of angst for locals for years – and they say it is affecting their house prices.
Mr Halbritter, a former councillor for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), was previously prosecuted over a failure to sort knotweed in his garden.
But residents say that, in practice, the legal action has had little effect and the invasive plant is still there – and has now grown to nearly 10ft high.
Other gripes included the sound of foxes mating coming from the basement, its generally unsightly appearance – and even claims a dead body was found there.
Neighbours are calling on RBKC take action, and have involved the local MP.
Christine Gambles, 69, says that since her husband passed away four years ago, she has been unable to cover the costs for her home, so she is looking at selling after 25 years on the street.
However, she says that she is required to disclose that her direct neighbour has knotweed growing, which she fears will put off potential buyers.
Hers and Mr Halbritter’s properties are on a street where flats can sell for more than £1million – and where a terraced home sold for £3.7million two years ago.
Mr Halbritter, a former councillor for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), was previously prosecuted over a failure to sort knotweed in his garden
The state of Nicholas Halbritter’s south-west London property has been a source of angst for locals for years – and they say it’s affecting their house prices
Hers and Mr Halbritter’s properties are on a street where flats can sell for more than £1million – and where a terraced home sold for £3.7million two years ago
Christine Gambles, 69, says that since her husband passed away four years ago, she has been unable to cover the costs for her home, so she is looking at selling after 25 years on the street
Ms Gambles said: ‘The house is derelict. Foxes literally live inside it, and we see them poking their heads out of the window.
‘The whole road is saying that it is an eyesore and it is affecting the value of our houses. Who the hell is going to buy a house with knotweed in it?
‘The house is also flooded, one of our walls went mouldy because water was coming through. I wasn’t allowed to access the property to fix it so it will probably come back.
‘My husband died a few years ago and I can’t afford to keep this house by myself, but I also can’t sell it. It is blighting my life. I have had to take out a mortgage at 69 years old.
‘Nobody will buy a house when you are in a dispute with your neighbour, so I am stuck.’
Mr Halbritter, 75, was taken to Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court in 2017 by RKBC, where he pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a notice to maintain land that had ten conditions.
These included sorting out the Japanese knotweed in his back garden, to stop it spreading, and removing rubbish from the basement area and garden, according to reports.
However, locals say that the infestation just keeps getting worse, and they claim the owner still hasn’t made any effort to clear it up.
Christine says that she has complained to RBKC council several times.
She also claims that she has tried contacing Mr Halbritter, who doesn’t appear to live in the house but is said to regularly drop by, but that she hasn’t been able to get in touch.
She added: ‘The owner comes and goes and sometimes you see him in the window. I have tried to talk to him, but he always runs down the road or slams the door in my face.
‘He is sitting on a lot of money. It is not just impacting our investment, but his too. You can’t have a house like that and let it go to ruin.
Another issue many locals have complained about is the water leaks from a mains pipe that broke two years ago, which is said to attract swarms of mosquitoes in the summer months
Nik Hoexter, who has lived on the other side of the property for 40 years, says that he can constantly hear the sound of running water from his home
Locals say that the infestation of knotweed just keeps getting worse, and they claim the owner still hasn’t made any effort to clear it up
‘There is knotweed everywhere. The council say that we have to prove it has invaded our property for them to fix it, but it would be underground.
‘I thought as soon as the council’s heard the word knotweed they would do something, but they still haven’t. It has been going on for 20 years.’
Another issue many locals have complained about is the water leaks from a mains pipe that broke two years ago, which is said to attract swarms of mosquitoes in the summer months.
Nik Hoexter, who has lived on the other side of the property for 40 years, says that he can constantly hear the sound of running water from his home.
He said: ‘There has been water running constantly for two years. They could fill a swimming pool by now.
‘It is a swamp and in the summer, you get loads of mosquitoes. The dampness will disintegrate the foundations of our houses.
‘The whole street has to look at it. It is awful. It is not nice living next door to. It is just appalling really.
‘A decomposing body was removed from the basement three years ago. He wasn’t discovered for ages. The lady in the flat at the bottom was vomiting all over the place at the smell.
‘The foxes breed in there and it is very loud. They are a nuisance. We have given up having lights in our garden because they just chew through them.
‘The knotweed will be a huge problem if I try to sell. It burrows and it is very aggressive. We have a paved garden, so it is probably already underneath.’
The resident says he has also gone back and forth with the homeowner and the council over the years, but he has also had no luck.
He added: ‘Done up these houses are worth quite a lot, so I can’t understand why he would want them to go derelict.
‘The council did prosecute him, but they are refusing to enforce it. He just ignores them, and they don’t fine him. They are calling it a spat between neighbours, but it is much more serious.
The resident says he has also gone back and forth with the homeowner and the council over the years, but he has also had no luck
‘The foxes breed in there and it is very loud. They are a nuisance. We have given up having lights in our garden because they just chew through them’, said one neighbour
Local MP Ben Coleman says he was contacted by a resident about the problem years ago, and has since been trying to pressure RBKC to take action – receiving the same response as locals
Land documents show that Mr Halbritter has been the owner of the property for more than 40 years
‘I don’t think it is fair for the council to duck out and say it is a neighbour problem. They have been very unhelpful. It is hopeless.
‘They have spent more time resisting doing something than it would have taken them to do it.’
Local MP Ben Coleman says he was contacted by a resident about the problem years ago, and has since been trying to pressure RBKC to take action – receiving the same response as locals.
He said: ‘I really feel for the residents. There are rats and mould is forming on neighbours’ walls.
‘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.
‘I was a councillor for ten years and I know that if you really want to get something done as a council you can. They are being derelict in their duty to residents.
‘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.’
He also says that he received contact from Mr Halbritter inviting him to a Royal British Legion gathering, which he responded to by asking him to clear the house, but he never received a reply.
Mr Coleman added: ‘The house owner’s behaviour is absolutely disgraceful. There is no excuse for him behaving the way that he has. I have never heard back from him.’
Land documents show that Mr Halbritter has been the owner of the property for more than 40 years.
Mr Halbritter has been approached for comment via email.
A Kensington and Chelsea Council spokesperson said: ‘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.
‘There is a very high bar for enforcement action on private property and this property is not in a condition that would justify further action. Residents may wish to pursue alternative options, such as civil action.’
