'Empty home next door attracted rats and raiders'
Birmingham City Council"Over time the empty home impacted our lives quite a lot, it had a rat infestation and the gardens were so overgrown they reduced the light that got into our garden."
The empty property next door to Nasir Whaind's home, near Kings Heath, Birmingham, became the bane of his family's lives, not least because it was also broken into.
But now, after he reported it to Birmingham City Council the property, along with 368 other empty homes, has been brought back into use through the work of the authority's Empty Homes Team.
Councillor Jayne Francis said the authority "always try to work with the owners", but they would turn to compulsory purchase orders "as a last resort".
The property next door to Mr Whaind had become so dilapidated he, along with other neighbours, had to take action to stop the rats from getting into their own homes.
He said the council put down traps but a derelict property "would always be an invitation" to many more rodents.
"It was also broken into, which caused a lot of concern and anxiety for us as I travel often and leave my family on their own," Mr Whaind added.
He did say the authority "tried to do everything they could" each time he contacted them.
'Blight on community'
A period of inaction from the owner led the council to obtain the property before it was sold at auction and renovated into a new family home.
Mr Whaind said he was grateful for the authority's support.
"I am very relieved that the situation has now been resolved, it's a really nice neighbourhood, and it was a waste of space having the home next door empty," he said.
When Francis visited, the family told her the properties were a "blight on local communities" and attracted "fly-tippers, burglars, vandals, and squatters".
"Bringing an empty home back into use helps maintain property values, end anti-social behaviour and improve the sense of pride in a local neighbourhood", she said.
It was "vital" to bring empty properties back into use as the country was "in the middle of a national housing crisis", she said, urging anyone who was aware of empty homes to contact the council.
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