The Tribune

BY FAY SIMMONS

TRIBUNE Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

AN OPPOSITION MP yesterday called for property owners to be held financially responsible for abandoned buildings and overgrown lots, arguing that the Government should be able to order demolitions and charge owners for clearing neglect.

Adrian White, the St Anne’s MP, said authorities should assess whether abandoned structures remain habitable and, where necessary, order their demolition and the clean-up of the surrounding site, rather than allowing property owners to simply walk away from buildings.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, he pointed to several neglected properties in his constituency, one of which was affected by fire and has since been left abandoned. He argued that property owners should not be permitted to leave buildings in a state of disrepair without consequence.

“I don’t think it’s fair for property owners to simply walk away from abandoned buildings, whether they’re fire damaged, whether the family members have gone,” Mr White said.

“Government authority should come in and determine if a structure is still habitable, and if not, order the demolition of that structure and the clean-up of the site.”

Mr White also highlighted the problem of overgrown vacant lots, describing the clearing of such properties as one of the top five requests he receives from constituents, with the issue recurring every quarter.

He said the problem was particularly frustrating where property owners did not live on the land and had no structure on it, yet allowed vegetation to grow unchecked into surrounding residential areas.

Mr White said lots may need to be cleared every three to four months, highlighting the recurring nature of the problem. He proposed that property owners be notified and billed, potentially through an additional charge on their real property tax bills, if they failed to maintain their land and keep vegetation from encroaching on neighbouring setbacks and roads.

He suggested that properties should be cleared back by at least 10 to 15 feet, with the cost of engaging a government or constituency agent to carry out the work charged to the owner.

“If they don’t maintain the property away from adjoining setbacks and out of the road at least 10 to 15 feet, then there’s going to be a cost involved because a government agent or a constituency agent is going to have to be engaged to clear that overgrown lot back,” he said. “And that’s not for the public to pay. In my opinion, that should be the property owner’s expense to pay.”