In a staggering tale of housing hypocrisy, the man branded Britain's most notorious slum landlord has abandoned his own multi-million-pound new-build 'palace' in Sussex, leaving local authorities in a costly quandary.
Fergus Wilson, infamous for amassing a portfolio of over 1,000 often substandard rental properties, is the elusive owner of a sprawling £2.5 million mansion in the prestigious Langley Green area of Crawley. The property, a testament to modern excess, stands completely empty, a stark contrast to the overcrowded Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) he typically manages.
A Trail of Decay and Debt
Neighbours have reported the grand property falling into a state of neglect, with "overgrown gardens and piles of unopened mail visible through the windows." The opulent home, complete with a sweeping driveway and multiple garages, has become an eyesore and a target for potential squatters.
Crawley Borough Council is now saddled with the burden, unable to reclaim over £16,000 in unpaid council tax due to complex legal loopholes surrounding ownership and abandonment. The authority has been forced to write off the debt, a cost ultimately borne by taxpayers.
From Slumlord to Sussex 'Palace'
The irony is palpable. While Wilson's company, F&G Properties, has been repeatedly criticised for housing tenants in what have been described as 'slum conditions' in nearby Ashford, Kent, his personal investment sits vacant. His business practices have sparked numerous enforcement actions from councils over safety standards and licensing issues.
This abandonment highlights a broader, deeply troubling issue within the UK's housing market: the stark disparity between the properties landlords provide for their tenants and those they keep for themselves. The Wilsons' Sussex mansion serves as a monument to this imbalance.
Attempts to contact Fergus and Judith Wilson for comment were unsuccessful. Their legacy remains one of controversy, a symbol of a broken housing system where profit too often trumps people, and even the grandest of palaces can be left to rot.
