Chelsea homeowners are struggling to sell their properties because a neighbour refuses to deal with a Japanese knotweed infestation and has let his property fall into disrepair, with foxes living inside.

Nicholas Halbritter, 75, was prosecuted for failing to maintain his plot in 2017 but his neighbours say he has since not met the conditions to manage the Japanese knotweed in his back garden, an invasive plant which has grown nearly three metres tall.

His neighbours on the street where a terraced house sold for £3.7 million two years ago also claim the house is derelict with foxes living inside and water leaks.

General view of Ifield Road, Chelsea, London.

The garden of the Victorian terraced house has been taken over by the invasive plant

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An aerial view of a neglected garden in Chelsea, London, showing overgrown Japanese knotweed and other plants.

Residents say the owner has not made any effort to clear the knotweed. They are calling on the council to take action, but Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council said they have “exhausted their powers”.

The conditions given to Halbritter, a former RBKC councillor, when he was prosecuted included sorting out the Japanese knotweed and stopping it spreading, according to reports.

Nik Hoexter, who has lived at a neighbouring property for 40 years, accused the council of “refusing to enforce” the prosecution.

• How to get rid of Japanese knotweed

“He just ignores them, and they don’t fine him,” he said. “They are calling it a spat between neighbours, but it is much more serious.”

Christine Gambles, 69, the neighbour on the other side, is looking to sell her home of 25 years as she has struggled to cover the costs since her husband died. But she says nobody will buy a house when she is in a dispute with her neighbour and the knotweed is also affecting its value.

“It is blighting my life,” she said. “The house is derelict. Foxes literally live inside it, and we see them poking their heads out of the window.

A view looking down into a basement window well, showing concrete steps covered in moss and autumn leaves, leading to a window mostly covered by a gray panel but revealing a pile of trash and items inside.

A view into the basement

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“The whole road is saying that it is an eyesore and it is affecting the value of our houses. Who the hell is going to buy a house with knotweed in it?

“The house is also flooded, one of our walls went mouldy because water was coming through. I wasn’t allowed to access the property to fix it so it will probably come back.”

She added that the council said she has to prove the knotweed has invaded her property in order for them to fix it. Gambles claims this would be difficult as the plant would be “underground”.

Black iron fence with "Enforcement Aware" tape from Kensington and Chelsea council.

Neighbours say the state of the property is affecting the value of their homes

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She said Halbritter, who does not appear to live in the house but is said to regularly drop by, “runs down the road or slams the door in my face” when she tries to speak to him.

Local MP Ben Coleman, who has been pressuring the council for years, accused RBKC of being “derelict in their duty to residents”. He described Halbritter’s behaviour as “absolutely disgraceful”.

Land documents show that Halbritter has owned the property for more than 40 years.

A cluttered view through a window of trash bags, an old book, and other debris.

A view of the interior of the house through a broken window

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A council spokesperson said the property is “not in a condition that would justify further action”.

They said: “We have met with neighbours of this property on many occasions and taken complaints seriously. Both our planning enforcement and environmental health teams have exhausted their powers and provided advice to the property owner.

“Residents may wish to pursue alternative options, such as civil action.”

Halbritter was approached for comment.