'Eyesore' house left empty for 15 years with missing floors and walls on market for £190k

A derelict property that has been the subject of numerous complaints from neighbours, a rat infestation and mould is now up for auction - with a price tag of £190K. The 'eyesore' house in Weymouth has been vacant for at least 15 years and has fallen into a terrible state of disrepair.

After its previous owner was unable to live in or maintain it, it now features missing floors, exposed walls and boarded-up windows. The situation became so dire that neighbours complained to Dorset Council about its condition, prompting an investigation from the local authority.

Built in the 1930s, the semi-detached home is now in the hands of an asset firm keen for a quick sale, and will go under the hammer for the third time this year after previously failing to find a buyer.

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With a guide price of £190,000, auctioneers Barnard Marcus are hoping to finally find a buyer on Tuesday, November 19. Residents also hope the property can be fully renovated and converted into a family home to meet local housing demands.

Eerie photos shared by the agents show one room missing a floor, a hole in one area, severe cosmetic damage, and evidence of mould. Shrubbery that had consumed and engulfed the property has since been cut down to make the property presentable for auction.

The property on Weymouth Bay Avenue has been notorious for problems like trespassing, vandalism by members of the public, overgrown greenery, and rat infestations that have been causing distress in the neighbourhood. The house has been subject to repeated break-ins, leading to its doors and windows being boarded up.

At one stage, large plants masked the property's front wall, driveway, and a caravan, also spilling onto the footpath. Ivy crept up the front and damage was evident to the building's exterior.

A decade ago, efforts were made to trim back the shrubbery, but it grew back more fiercely, engulfing the garden and front of the house. The estate agent concedes that the dilapidated residence "needs a program of renovation and updating to restore it to a substantial family dwelling".

Despite this, they are keen to highlight its potential for expansion, including loft conversions. The property is constructed with brick walls, featuring an attached single garage and a generously sized garden at the back.

Upon entering through the porch, visitors are welcomed into the entrance hallway which branches off into two large reception rooms, positioned at the front and back, along with what once served as the kitchen and utility spaces, both of which currently out of use.

On the upper level, there are three bedrooms complemented by a bathroom, the latter housing a shower unit that's been partly dismantled. The master bedroom, in particular, offers expansive views across Weymouth and its surrounds.

Potential buyers are cautioned that they will need to re-establish the dividing boundary wall of the front garden between this property and No. 28.

It's also unlikely that a buyer would be able to secure a standard residential mortgage on this property due to the lack of functioning kitchen or bathroom facilities. Dorset Council has previously stated that the property has suffered damage from the public, with officers aiming to "protect the public from hurting themselves within the grounds" due to the state of the property.

An environment officer told a resident in an email in 2021: "The property reported is known to the local authority (as are many others) and we are currently undergoing a process of investigating and acting upon them in order of priority. This includes, but is not limited to boarding up / fencing-in and compulsory purchase (where possible and cost effective to do so).

"Current plans for this premises include the removal of vegetation to the front and sides, and the fencing off/boarding-up of the property to protect it from further damage caused by members of the general public and, due to the condition of some of the structure, to protect the public from hurting themselves within the grounds."

The auction will take place in a public and online livestream auction on Tuesday, November 19 from 9am onwards at The Grand Connaught Rooms in London. At Lot 58, it is expected the lot will come up between 10.30am and 11am.