A vacant property in Humewood is proving to be a headache for neighbours in the upmarket area as vagrants are carrying the house away brick by brick.
The property is not the only troublesome one, and residents fear the decay and dilapidation are bringing their property values down.
Crime is also a growing concern for residents as they have watched these properties slowly waste away and become an eyesore in their neighbourhood.
Residents have sent one of the property owners a list of demands, threatening legal action should he not secure and look after the house, which has become a regular target for criminal elements.
In the past week, the property owner made certain assurances that he would secure the property and take steps to improve its condition.
The area’s ward councillor has also been approached, and said property owners would be held accountable for letting their homes go to ruin, possibly facing fines as well as legal action.
In October, Gqeberha attorney Gerald Freedman, representing a group of fed-up Humewood residents, sent a letter of demand to the owner of a property where Glengarry Crescent and Chalmers Road meet.
According to the letter, the property has been abandoned for a number of years and allowed to decay.
The situation reached boiling point when vagrants started stripping the home and taking shelter there.
On October 24, at about 5.15am, neighbours heard “a terrible noise and gunshots were fired”.
Freedman confirmed the contents of the letter.
It is clear the house is not inhabited just by looking through the front gate.
There is no furniture in the main living rooms, and the large windows have no blinds or curtains to keep out prying eyes.
Through a side gate, shattered glass can be seen on the ground where a pane was broken out of an aluminium frame door.
Since the letter of demand was sent to the owner, efforts have been made to improve the unkempt garden.
The grass had been cut, and several overgrown shrubs and bushes trimmed.
“A few weeks ago I spotted people carrying something out of the yard that looked like a geyser.
“I phone the police and they drove past, but by that time the men were already gone.
“I asked the police what we can do about the situation and they said the property owner has to report the matter and open a case,” a neighbour said, declining to be named.
Freedman’s letter demanded that the property be secured as soon as possible to ensure vagrants could no longer gain access or take shelter there.
The letter said several structures had been erected on the property, and if the owner did not have approved plans for them they should be regarded as illegal and demolished.
Attempts to reach the property owner were unsuccessful.
However, upon visiting the property last week, The Herald found a man and woman with a set of keys, seemingly inspecting the house.
When asked about the condition of the property and complaints from neighbours, they were reluctant to respond.
“The property is being renovated,” was their only reply before going inside.
About a kilometre away, in Cathcart Road, residents have raised similar concerns over an empty plot that has become overgrown after the house that once occupied it was demolished several months ago.
The outer walls seem to be well-maintained, while the metal gates, fencing and gate motor all appear to be intact.
However, dense bushes have taken over the old foundations and evidence of vagrants living among the vegetation is visible through the gates.
Nico Phillips, 62, was walking his dog past the property and pulled a face to show his disgust when asked about the vacant lot.
“It was empty for a bit, then it was in the market, and then a few months ago it was demolished.
“I didn’t mind that they demolished it, as I thought they would probably build a new house or some kind of property development there.
“But it’s been months now and nothing is happening.”
Besides the dense bushes becoming an eyesore, he said vagrants often climbed over the walls and camped out there.
“I’ve seen these guys coming from the direction of the old Boet Erasmus Stadium.
“As they walk down the street they look into the yard and peek over walls.
“I can’t say they are criminals, but they seem up to no good.
“Then they jump over the wall and disappear in the bushes on this plot.”
Phillips said he was considering selling his property in Cathcart Road because he would be relocating to a retirement village soon, but he was worried that the condition of the property down the road could put off potential buyers or negatively affect his selling price.
“I know it’s still relatively safe here, but if I was new to the area and driving past this place, or I saw someone jumping over the walls, I wouldn’t want to live here,” Phillips said.
Ward 2 councillor Renaldo Gouws said several residents had brought complaints about abandoned properties in Humewood to his office.
He said he was liaising with the municipality to investigate and take action against the property owners in question, in accordance with the Problem Building bylaws.
“We have requested that the municipality do inspections at the properties in question as part of its investigation.
“Once the proper processes have been followed, the property owners can be held accountable for letting the properties fall into ruin and they could be fined,” Gouws said.
If fines were issued and the matter was not resolved, Gouws said the municipality could take further legal action.
He said officials had renewed their efforts to clamp down on problem buildings across the metro because they had a far-reaching impact on the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Gouws shared the concerns of residents in his ward about property values being affected.
However, he also warned residents not to vilify vagrants too quickly as if they were solely to blame for the issues arising around abandoned properties.
“There are no laws against being homeless and people should be careful to point fingers at vagrants just for being in an area.
“Landlords and property owners should be held accountable and keep their properties well maintained and secure.”
Re/Max Independent managing member Christo Slabbert said the municipality’s renewed approach towards problem buildings, and holding owners accountable, could do wonders for the metro’s property market.
He said enforcing bylaws that would require people to do regular maintenance on buildings would not only improve the appearance of the city, but could boost the value of surrounding properties.
“Looking at an area like Humewood specifically, properties have a lot of value due to their proximity to the coast and the potential of possible waterfront development in the harbour.
“However, the situation comes into play where your neighbours’ lack of maintenance will undoubtedly impact your property value.
“It’s not fair, but that’s reality.
“One or two bad properties can impact an entire street or neighbourhood.
“Nelson Mandela Bay’s property market has so much potential, and if the municipality can get these bylaws right, it could bring a massive boost to the market,” Slabbert said.
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