Man fined over 30-year deterioration of homes

Mark Reaston was prosecuted for failing to bring the homes back to a reasonable condition

A homeowner has been fined almost £4,000 after leaving three empty properties in a village to deteriorate for nearly 30 years.

Mark Reaston, 62, was prosecuted by Rushcliffe Borough Council for failing to bring the homes on The Green, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, back to a reasonable condition and rectify the "adverse effect it was having on the local community".

He was found guilty of 15 counts of failing to comply with statutory notices issued by the authority at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

The council said it had served the owner with notices to improve the external condition of the properties in May 2023 following years of complaints from residents living nearby.

'Unacceptable states of disrepair'

He was given six months to carry out the work, the authority added.

The council's environmental health officer then inspected the homes on five separate dates, finding the "vast majority of the works" had not been completed.

The case went to trial on Wednesday, and, after being found guilty, Reaston, of The Green in Ruddington, was fined a total of £3,931.40, which included the council's full costs.

Councillor Roger Upton, cabinet portfolio holder for planning and housing at the authority, said: "We share local residents' frustration at the way in which these homes have been left in completely unacceptable states of disrepair for so long.

"Unoccupied homes can be detrimental to the lives of those in local communities. They can cause problems such as vandalism, anti-social behaviour and nuisance and also reduce the value of surrounding properties.

"We have been left with little choice than to pursue prosecution."