A Wellington house which has been left unoccupied for decades has begun to sprout a ‘forest’ from its upstairs window and become a ‘tourist attraction’ for visitors. 

The abandoned property has become an immovable eyesore for neighbours, with its frontage in a delipidated state and its garden overgrowing. 

The terraced house has also become a hotbed of rats, prompting an investigation from Environmental Health after complaints by residents several years ago. 

Residents have taken it upon themselves to carry out upkeep to the building, with some neighbours taking to strimming the front garden to keep it from becoming too unsightly. 

But fresh concerns have been raised that the house poses a fire risk. So much mail has been put through the letterbox over the years that a great pile of post is now stacked behind the front door. 

When the Wellington Weekly raised the issue with Somerset Council, a spokesperson for the authority said residents should bring their concerns directly to them by phone or online. However it is understood that concerns over fire have already been raised by residents – and dismissed by inspectors. 

Some neighbours occasionally tame the overgrown frontage to prevent it becoming too unsightly
Some neighbours occasionally tame the overgrown frontage to prevent it becoming too unsightly (Tindle )

Neighbours who live a couple of doors down from the eyesore branded the state of the building as “absolutely disgusting’” and “a disgrace.” The residents have lived at their present address for 60 years, and have had to endure the empty building for at least half that time. 

One resident said: “The council said at one time they would take it on and do it up and that was 10 years ago.” 

Another added: “It’s sad to leave a house like that. It is disgusting. If you put your hand in the letter box, you couldn’t get a letter in. “We have reported that as a fire hazard and they said it is not a fire hazard. Well a lit match going in there, that does sound like a fire hazard to me. “People stop to look at it, it is almost like an attraction for the visitors.”

Vegetation was seen sprawled across parts of the frontage, with the window frames looking degraded
Vegetation was seen sprawled across parts of the frontage, with the window frames looking degraded (Tindle)

“We hate to see it because somebody could be living there. When you think there are people all over the country looking for somewhere to live and there is a place empty here.” 

Another resident who lives near the house said that it had been abandoned for 40 or more years, and that their cat regularly retrieves rats from the property. Somerset Council would not comment on the potential fire hazard, or commit to taking action to carry out any enforcement actions. In a statement a spokesperson said: “Environmental Health did investigate complaints about rats at the property several years ago and, after serving a notice, took action to clear part of the garden and proof the premises. 

We have not been contacted by anyone recently, but if neighbours are being affected by rats and there is evidence that they may be coming from a neighbouring property, then they can contact Somerset Council via the Council’s website Contact us (somerset.gov.uk) or by calling 0300 123 2224 or email [email protected]”