Owners of vacant ‘eyesore’ Manningham home relieved as they can finally demolish it

An “eyesore” and long-vacant, overgrown home that’s a haven for rats and squatters will finally be torn down – much to the owner’s relief.

47 Hampstead Rd Manningham. – Residents say rats and squatters have been living in the derelict home. Picture: Dean Martin

A vacant, rat-plagued Manningham home dubbed an “eyesore” by locals is set to be demolished at the end of the month, in a move expected to end years of frustration for both nearby residents and its owners.

The Hampstead Rd home has stood empty for about six years after the owner died in 2019, leaving it to his two sons.

Nearby residents said squatters had since moved in and the property has been plagued by overgrown vegetation, illegal activity and rats that had also invaded their own homes.

“There’s been break-ins, they’ve taken all the copper as well. It doesn’t feel safe,” said one resident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

“The last straw was the squatters. We’ve just had enough.”

Their frustrations are shared by the brothers, one of them telling The Advertiser the house has been a “headache” because they weren’t allowed to make improvements or fix problems until the home was legally theirs.

Owner Paul Wakeham said it took three years for the property to go through the public trustee process, during which they weren’t able to touch it.

Residents say rats and squatters have been living in the derelict home. 23 February, 2025. Picture: Dean Martin

“They wanted $30,000 to do the estate so we had to sell another house to pay for the bill or they were going to sell the property,” he said.

He said once the house was released, they discovered it was condemnable and would need at least $60,000 in repairs.

Residents say rats and squatters have been living in the derelict home. 23 February, 2025. Picture: Dean Martin

Mr Wakeham said they were aware of the problems plaguing the home – including squatters and theft – but had struggled to tackle them.

“We keep boarding the place up and they keep destroying the brackets and everything that we try and block the place up with,” he said.

“The place has always been a wreck of a house. We never had the money to do the place up.”

Mr Wakeham said they recently saved up enough to have it bulldozed and his brother plans to build a new home.

Residents described the property as an “eyesore”, with one local saying rats had moved in and spread to their own home.

“They’re climbing on top of my fence … they go over the rumpus room, on the roof, you can hear them,” he said.

Port Adelaide Enfield Council has received nine complaints about the property since 2019, most relating to overgrown vegetation.

A spokesperson said the owners had cut the vegetation to reduce the fire risk but councillors had voted for more action over the state of the property.

The Advertiser understands police have also attended the property in the past.

Mr Wakeham said the demolition process will start in the final week of March.

Originally published as Owners of vacant ‘eyesore’ Manningham home relieved as they can finally demolish it