A homeowner in Chelsea is facing a council enforcement order after allegedly failing to address rampant Japanese knotweed, rats, and foxes at his multimillion-pound property. Kensington and Chelsea Council has served Nicholas Halbritter with a Section 215 notice following complaints from neighbours on Ifield Road, where homes are valued at over £3 million.
Residents claim the property at No.144 has been neglected for years, with issues including knotweed, vermin, and a leaking mains pipe causing a mosquito swarm. Lead petitioner Nik Hoexter told the council's planning applications committee that the house is 'rotting from the inside out' and that the decomposing remains of a former basement resident were removed. Windows are blacked out, and vegetation is growing into the house through broken windows.
The Section 215 notice, which compels property owners to clean up land that negatively impacts the area, was approved despite a council report advising against action on the grounds of 'no significant harm'. Councillor Marie-Therese Rossi argued that 'common sense must prevail' and that direct action is needed. Mr Hoexter urged the council to use stronger measures under Section 219 to enter the property and carry out work themselves.
Mr Halbritter, a former Conservative councillor, was previously investigated by Hammersmith and Fulham Council under a bi-borough arrangement. A Section 215 notice was served in 2016, and the garden was cleared by November 2017, leading to the case being closed. A council spokesperson confirmed that the current notice will be progressed in line with legislation.
Japanese knotweed, introduced to the UK as an ornamental plant, is now an invasive weed subject to legal control. It grows up to 2 metres tall and has a deep root system that can extend over 1 metre underground. While it is not an offence to have the plant in a garden, failure to control its spread can lead to enforcement action.
