This modest, 1960s semi-detached house might go unnoticed by those who pass it, but its run-down exterior tells the story of thousands of forgotten homes across Britain.
The Hampshire property has quietly sat still for more than six decades, with only rats scurrying across its interior and foxes frequently visiting its overgrown garden.
The lonely house is one of 265,000 long-term empty residential homes across the country that have been vacant for more than six months, according to Empty Property Hunters.
Built in the 1960s, the three-bed property in the coastal town of Fareham has never been lived in since it was purchased as a pair by the owners of next-door.
The former elderly owners of the two homes on Scafell Avenue, who are now deceased, purchased the neighbouring house in the hope their children would one day move in and help with their care.
But today, both homes now lie vacant as the family battles probate, as neighbours still hold out hope both properties will eventually welcome new owners.
Wheelie bins block the decaying, battered and bolted front door and the garage entrance, where blue paint has been slowly peeling away over time as white flakes away from the window frames.
And behind its boarded-up windows, the litter that lies in front of a side door are hollow rooms where memories were never made.
This property on Scafell Avenue in Fareham has been left vacant for more than six decades
It was purchased by an elderly couple, who are now deceased, that lived next door with the hopes their children would move in to take care of them
While neighbours jokingly dub it ‘The Addams Family’ home, there are fears squatters could break in and take it over while others feel it ‘brings down the [value] of the area’.
But one thing all locals can unite on is that something must be done about this tumbledown home, which is a blight on their neighbourhood, where similar properties sell for £350,000.
One of many frustrated neighbours is Anne Page, 84, who has described the situation as ‘dangerous’.
‘I am scared stiff at night. I have seen people try to break in for years,’ she said.
‘It is filled with foxes and rats, and the whole situation is just silly. I try to keep an eye on it, but it is very stressful.
‘I don’t need this at my age, and neither does the rest of the community; it’s a big stain on the area.
‘We bought our home in 1965 when it was being built, and 63 was always empty.’
Meanwhile, Valerie Edwards, who lives three houses up from the dilapidated duo, said it was ‘such a shame’ the properties lay empty.
The 84-year-old said: ‘They could do them up lovely and they’d be a great home for a big family or two small ones.
‘It is such a shame. Anne has seen squatters trying to break in so many times,’ she added.
‘Something has to be done, and the question is why hasn’t it? This could be one of Britain’s best-kept estates bar these shacks.’
Fellow local Nigel Harrison went as far as to suggest the homes may ‘need to be knocked down’.
Phillip Jones, 46, who moved to the area six years ago from Gosport, described the sad-looking home as a ‘permanent fixture’.
The Royal Marines veteran said: ‘It’s been a permanent fixture sadly, someone should intervene – this is an expensive area.
‘Maybe if they sold it, the money could go to veterans, we have so many homeless at the moment.’
Married couple Sophie and Val Sargeant, who moved to the area a year ago, agreed it was a ‘shame’ the properties are still vacant.
Mrs Sargeant said: ‘They’re ugly and it’s sad. I saw someone cutting the bushes back a while back but nobody seems to care.’
Mr Sargeant added: ‘It’s like the Addams Family house isn’t it? Nobody has ever touched it or lived in it. It could so easily be converted and given to a nice family.’
But as the famil6y battle probate, the two homes have been left vacant with one, which has never been lived falling into further decay
Left: A bolted decaying door on the front of the property. Right: Rubbish in a wheelie bin guarding the property’s entrance
Neighbours have raised concerns that squatters could take over the property (Pictured: The home’s decaying window frames)
One of many frustrated neighbours includes Anne Page, 84, who gone as far as to describe the situation as ‘dangerous’
Another anonymous neighbour added: ‘To say the community is a little browned off by the situation is an understatement.’
Simon Taylor, founder of Empty Property Hunters, said: ‘This isn’t just a property story. It’s about neighbours, communities and thousands of homes sitting empty during a housing crisis.
‘Together, we believe we can really make a difference.
‘Houses remain empty for lots of reasons. Some owners simply can’t cope with probate, inheritance rows or the cost of repairs. That’s where we step in and try to unblock the situation.
‘The maddest thing? Homes like this are often sitting in areas where families would bite your hand off for the chance to buy one.’
It comes as a mansion, with a stinking swamp and an overgrown garden which serves as a home to foxes, was left to rot in an exclusive west London street.
The four-storey home located on Ilfield Road, Chelsea, was left vacant for more than a decade after a dead person was discovered inside.
And since the gruesome discovery in 2010, when police reportedly vomited, the home has only been left to fall into further decay.
Those living locally described the property as an ‘eyesore’, adding that the ramshackle home had ‘harm[ed]’ the street’s character.
Forty-six neighbours have since joined forces and signed a petition, which has resulted in the council hitting owner Nicholas Halbritter with a Section 215 notice.
The notice means Mr Halbritter will be forced to tidy the land and trim back the knotweed after councillors found the eyesore caused ‘significant harm’ to the area.
Christine Gambles, 70, who has lived in the neighbouring property for more than two decades, said the saga took over her life.
‘My husband spent ten years of his life before his death four years ago fighting this,’ she told The Sun.
‘Now I am at the end of my tether because next year I really need to sell my home.
‘How much more money have I got to spend out of my own pocket because of this man’s neglect? Fighting this has taken over my life.’
