Claremont Orchard, Orleton bungalow unoccupied for years

Graham Kelly lives in one of the houses “across the road” from number 3, Claremont Orchard and notes it has been vacant for “over seven years” - the whole time Mr Kelly has lived opposite the house.

The empty property is located on Orleton's Claremont Orchard. (Image: ROB DAVIES)

He describes the uninhabited dwelling as “not very good at all. It’s all overgrown and nothing has been done.”

Upon researching the house’s historical data on both Zoopla and Rightmove, no data has been stored for the mystery empty bungalow.

CLICK HERE and slide the circle to see the house in May, 2024 (L) and back in September, 2009 (R) (Images: Google Maps)

Overgrown grass and greenery plague the property, and a mouldy, dilapidated caravan that has seemingly sat on Number 3’s drive since at least 2009 remains in situ.

Mr Kelly despairs of having the bungalow as a neighbour and has tried to take action by reaching out to the council. The Hereford Times also contacted the council but received no comment.

The abandoned caravan remains at the site (Image: ROB DAVIES)

5,375 properties, roughly five per cent of Herefordshire’s total residencies, were revealed to be consistently empty in research based on the 2021 prospectus. Empty houses, holiday homes and otherwise inconsistently occupied properties formed the empty house total. These figures came at the same time the county’s serious need for new housing was stated by the council. 16,500 new homes were said to be required.

In 2022, the council’s cabinet agreed to impose double council tax on properties vacant for between one and two years, as well as on second homes in the county. Unfortunately, “the earliest that such a change could be implemented is April 2025” due to an enabling change in government legislation needed, a council spokesperson previously said.

The bungalow is incredibly overgrown and unloved (Image: ROB DAVIES)

The Herefordshire Council’s website says how an empty property has “a significant impact on the local environment and community”, “is a waste of valuable resource at a time when we have a shortage of available housing in Herefordshire” and “can have an impact on anti-social behaviour, property prices and other environmental issues.”

They encourage communities to “work together” and report vacant properties to receive help in bringing them “back into use” and "realising their potential".