Rotherham council house stands empty for six years

A COUNCIL home has stood empty for six years while nearly 20,000 people swell the waiting list. Now, at last, the house where time stood still is to get a new tenant—even though it is still awaiting finishing touches.Despite an ever-growing wait

A COUNCIL home has stood empty for six years while nearly 20,000 people swell the waiting list.

 

Now, at last, the house where time stood still is to get a new tenant—even though it is still awaiting finishing touches.

Despite an ever-growing waiting list, the property on Marrion Road in Rawmarsh has been vacant since 2003, with housing chiefs citing structural problems as the cause.

2010 Rotherham Ltd claims that until last year the property was the borough council's responsibility and was handed over to them "due to changes in the housing market."

But as 23-year-old Gemma Ainsworth and her family prepared to move into the house,

they were shocked to learn that the replastering work had only been completed in the last two weeks and the house was not connected to the mains gas supply.

A family member said that Gemma had been on the housing waiting list since the age of 16.

He added: "At first we were told that we'd have to move in and the work would be done around us.

"We've still got to use gas bottles for the time being, which is not ideal when a two-year-old child is in the house.

"Two weeks ago grates were still on the windows and it didn't seem possible that it would be ready in time."

Gemma and her family said that they could not believe the house had been left for six years.

"We were told that it needed underpinning but that's a four-week job," added the family member.

"It is hard to believe with the high demand for council houses that one could be sitting empty for so long. Why was this work not done years ago?"

This week, 2010 Rotherham assured Ms Ainsworth that the work would be completed by the time she moved in.

A spokeswoman said: “We are aware that Ms Ainsworth has had some concerns regarding her new property, but we can confirm that all works will be completed in time for her to move in on November 13 .

"An application has been submitted to National Grid to have the property reconnected to the mains gas supply and we are awaiting confirmation of when this will be completed.

"In the meantime, 2010 Rotherham has provided Ms Ainsworth with a temporary gas supply."

She added: "Customer satisfaction is of paramount importance at 2010 Rotherham and the majority of our tenants are able to move into their new home without any issues."

A spokeswoman for Rotherham Borough Council said that a detailed investigation had been carried out into the property, which had serious structural defects.

She added: "Occasionally we do have properties such as this which require major works at considerable cost to the council.

"A number of options were considered in detail for this property which resulted in a decision to retain the property and undertake all the necessary works to bring it back into use."