People in Haringey have voiced their frustration over homes which have been squatted, broken into and left to ruin.

A number of properties across the borough have fallen into disrepair causing anger and disruption for neighbours.

A total of seven properties in Wood Green, Tottenham and Green Lanes have been identified by Haringey Borough Council as possible cases for compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) to repossess them unless the owners urgently fix their problems.

One of the properties singled out on Woodside Road, Wood Green, has been left derelict for a number of years.

Neighbour Catherine Stefaniw, 81, said: “It’s never been looked after really, years and years it has been like that.

“The place wants tidying up definitely, my son has a house in the borough and the council make sure he keeps his property in order so it’s only fair that they make everyone look after their properties.

“The council has been aware of the situation for a long time so it’s good that they’re doing something about it but I hope they don’t have to take it from whoever owns it.”

Rudolf Toma, 45, also a neighbour on Woodside Avenue said: “It’s a good thing the council is stepping in because the back garden is in a state and foxes are living in it, making a mess and all sorts of noise in the evening.

“It needs fixing up and I hope that happens soon.”

Another house among those targeted on Harringay Gardens, Green Lanes, was described by a neighbour as ‘embarassing’.

She said: “The situation is very frustrating and has been going on for more than a year now. We have had rats and mice coming into our garden because of the mess that place is in and we’ve had to have pest control in twice, costing us £70 to make to stop them from overrunning our garden, it’s not fair.

“The front garden is an eyesore with rubbish and a shopping trolley in it, it’s embarrassing especially when people come to visit. This is a small, quiet, well kept street and that place spoils it. Hopefully it gets sorted out before the council have to take it away.”

The properties have been repeatedly broken into or squatted and face problems such as overgrown gardens, serious damp and pest problems, which have resulted in complaints like these from neighbours.

The move to consider repossession comes after the owners of the properties repeatedly ignored warning letters, offers of grants for repairs and advice to help them bring the homes into use.

Councillor Alan Strickland, cabinet member for regeneration and housing, said: “While families across Haringey struggle to save for a deposit or find an affordable place to rent, it’s unacceptable that homes are being left empty and falling into disrepair.

“CPOs will be used as a last resort and is one of a range of measures we’re taking to get homes back into use.”

In the last nine years 262 properties have been brought back into use by the council using the threat of compulsory purchase with many owners taking action after realising they could lose their property.

Any homes that are purchased under the scheme are sold as soon as possible to housing associations or private buyers.