Squatting in Islington: 'drug den' seized by Council

Squatting is an issue that crops up regularly in Islington, perhaps unsurprising given the soaring rents, length of council home waiting lists and cost of buying in the area. The council has been engaged in a crack-down over the issue recently - soon to be made a more serious offence - and has recently informed us of action taken at a property in Fonthill Road, Finsbury Park.

The property, a three storey 'period mid-terraced family home' was known to be a squat, and is said to have become an eyesore and even a risk to local residents' lives after it was set on fire and vandalised after its owner became unwell in 2005. With the landlord unable to maintain the house it fell into serious disrepair, to the extent that Islington wrote to the leaseholders in 2009 requesting that they make good certain essential repairs. When this request failed, a decision was made to take back the property; a compulsory purchase order that will ultimately place it back into Islington's pool of usable housing stock.

Cllr James Murray, executive member for housing Islington Council said: "We only seek a CPO as a final resort and after the owner is given every opportunity to carry the work out themselves. The owners have accepted this is the most appropriate course of action. The building is an eyesore and cannot be left as a ruin that could attract further anti-social behaviour."

"The council will give the current market value for the property as set by the Valuation Office Agency and one that reflects its current condition. "We hope a housing association will take it on, and provide much needed affordable social housing for families on Islington's waiting list. The building's condition was the subject of numerous complaints to the council from local residents, the Stroud Green Residents Group and the Finsbury Park Safer Neighbourhoods Team. The council's decision must now be confirmed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

The case is said to be just one of many instances of a property being reclaimed as part of a drive to maximise the number of available properties for social rent in the borough by returning empty properties to use and tackling fraudulent subletting.  The Council claims that it has already driven down the number of council voids to an all time low. It also states that is using £3m per year of its New Homes Bonus to invest in new social housing schemes for overcrowded families on Islington's housing waiting list