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Owners of evacuated homes say they remain in limbo

Lewis Smith Homes in Cyfyng Road, and a tree appearing to grow out of the upstairs window of one propertyLewis Smith
The council issued emergency orders to leave the homes in Cyfyng Road after a landslip raised safety concerns

Property owners in a condemned street have said they are stuck in a state of financial limbo seven years after residents were ordered to leave following a landslide.

People in Cyfyng Road, near Ystalyfera in Neath Porth Talbot, were told to evacuate in 2017 because they were thought to be at "imminent risk".

The landlord of one house said if the council did not offer to buy it he could be left out of pocket as his insurance company believed there was no damage to claim for.

Neath Port Talbot council said all owners were given the chance to talk to an expert to support them on insurance, and anyone having difficulty could contact its officials to consider their options.

Gabe Thomas, who previously rented a house to tenants, said with demolition looming he could lose thousands of pounds.

The family who rented the property from him were moved to other accommodation in 2017.

Mr Thomas said: "As a landlord, I invested a lot of money into purchasing the house and then in renovating it.

"It used to be a nice little community with a mixture of people and it was a lovely place to live. At the moment it’s just sitting empty and we feel as though we’re in a situation where there's nothing we can do."

Residents were banned from returning to live in their homes after the evacuation due to safety concerns.

A year later these orders were challenged following an independent survey, which residents said showed they were unfairly made to leave.

But this appeal was rejected when the Residential Property Tribunal Wales upheld the evacuation and prohibition orders as it found there was a "risk of serious harm to health and safety arising from structural collapse".

Lewis Smith Gabe Thomas, in a blue shirt, standing outside one of the houses in Cyfyng RoadLewis Smith
"We feel as though we're in a situation where there’s nothing we can do," says Gabe Thomas, who owns a property on the road

Most of the homes are now in a state of disrepair with boarded-up windows, graffiti, and trees growing out of their walls.

Mr Thomas said he and another owner were unhappy with the insurance situation after being told "there is no damage for us to claim on" and "we’re stuck in limbo as there's also a demolition order by the council".

He said: "Most of the people have been paid out by the insurance, but for the two of us that haven't we really don't know where we are with it. It's frustrating and we would definitely like to get some answers."

Demolition work on homes in Cyfyng Road, with a digger close to houses and cones and an arrow sign in the street
Demolition of homes in the road got under way in 2023

The council said a tribunal panel had rejected appeals to the prohibition order from three property owners.

It said the panel found none of those homes were "founded on solid rock" and "unanimously agreed the authority had shown there was a serious and imminent risk to anyone living in the properties".

It said it had worked "closely" with those who had to leave, "helping with rehousing and giving support and advice".

"All property owners were offered the opportunity to engage with an independent expert to support them in dealing with their insurance companies.

The council added that "demolition orders served against the remaining properties are still in force and with no stabilisation scheme being proposed by the property owners, a phased demolition of the houses continues to be the likely outcome".

It said owners who "are having difficulties settling their insurance claims" should contact environmental health to consider their options.