In one of Chelsea’s most affluent streets, where properties fetch up to £4 million, a remarkable case of property neglect has drawn attention and anger from residents.
A large Victorian gault brick mansion, owned for more than 40 years by 75-year-old Nicholas Halbritter, has fallen into a state of alarming disrepair, leaving neighbours concerned over its impact on the community and surrounding property values.
Although the house’s exterior retains a semblance of normality, the interior and grounds tell a different story. Inside, the property shows extensive decay.
Particularly troubling was a grisly incident some years ago when a decomposed human corpse was discovered in the basement following complaints about a foul odour.
Neighbours recall that the smell was so bad it caused a resident in a bottom-floor flat to vomit.
But despite these grim circumstances, the property has not been abandoned entirely.
Mr Halbritter visits regularly, with neighbour of 26 years Christine Gambles revealing: ‘The owner comes and goes and sometimes you see him in the window. I have tried to talk to him, but he always runs down the road or slams the door in my face.’
A major problem with the property is the garden, which is overrun by Japanese knotweed, an invasive species notorious in the UK for its rapid spread and potential to damage building foundations and infrastructure.
The knotweed reportedly reaches heights of up to 10 feet and encroaches into adjacent gardens, exacerbating neighbours’ frustrations.
Residents have highlighted how the knotweed and the deteriorating property have led to a reduction in their own home values.
Christine said: ‘The whole road is saying that it is an eyesore and it is affecting the value of our houses. Who the hell is going to buy a house with knotweed in it?
‘The house is also flooded, one of our walls went mouldy because water was coming through. I wasn’t allowed to access the property to fix it, so it will probably come back.’
She added: ‘My husband died a few years ago and I can’t afford to keep this house by myself, but I also can’t sell it. It is blighting my life. I have had to take out a mortgage at 69 years old.
‘Nobody will buy a house when you are in a dispute with your neighbour, so I am stuck.’
The garden has become jungle-like, with damaged drains creating swampy conditions that attract rats and foxes, which reportedly nest inside the premises and give rise to nightly disturbances.
Nik Hoexter, who has lived on the other side of the property for 40 years, is also concerned about the implications for his own property value.
He said: ‘The knotweed will be a huge problem if I try to sell. It burrows and it is very aggressive. We have a paved garden, so it is probably already underneath.’
He added that he has also gone back and forth with the homeowner and the council over the years, but he has had no luck.
According to the Daily Mail, in 2016 the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council issued a Section 215 enforcement notice mandating Mr Halbritter to carry out essential repairs, clear rubbish, and tackle the Japanese knotweed infestation.
After failing to comply within the stipulated timeframe, he pleaded guilty in 2017 and was fined.
Mr Halbritter attributed some of the neglect to being ‘misled’ by the council and stated that his duties as deputy organiser for the British Legion’s Poppy Appeal had distracted him from addressing property maintenance.
Although he initially promised to use experts to eradicate the knotweed, reports suggest he attempted to manage the problem independently before abandoning efforts, leading to the ongoing infestation.
Local MP Ben Coleman says he was contacted by a resident about the problem years ago, and has since been trying to pressure RBKC to take action.
He said: ‘I really feel for the residents. There are rats, and mould is forming on neighbours’ walls.
‘They have tried so hard to get the council to do something. They seem to just keep making excuses for not doing what they should be doing.’
Meanwhile, a Kensington and Chelsea spokesperson said: ‘We have met with neighbours of this property on many occasions and taken complaints seriously.
‘Both our planning enforcement and environmental health teams have exhausted their powers and provided advice to the property owner.
‘There is a very high bar for enforcement action on private property and this property is not in a condition that would justify further action. Residents may wish to pursue alternative options, such as civil action.’
For now, the neglected Victorian mansion remains a point of contention affecting one of London’s most desirable areas, with no immediate resolution in sight.
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