A Burnaby resident whose house is in an "unsightly state," is facing a potential $20,000 to $25,000 bill from the city's clean-up crew.
On Jan. 29, staff took photos of a 6900-block Mandy Ave. home that has had several complaints since Feb. 2000 for having materials, goods and personal items placed on the yard and around the house.
"It's regrettable," Mayor Derek Corrigan said at the Feb. 4 council meeting. "It's the only option left."
Council approved the staff's recommendation to allow city workers to enter the property and remove the materials, at the cost of the owner.
A senior male who lives alone occupies the house, and was spoken to by staff with the aid of a social worker while the man was in hospital, "to explain the necessity of a cleanup of the property," the report states. "Staff have also remained in contact with neighbours who are concerned both for the health of the property owner, and with the ongoing state of the property."
The property is in violation of the Unsightly Premises Bylaw, with the volume of debris surrounding the house and overgrowth.
The property has been in the news before, when Burnaby RCMP officers, along with firefighters and emergency services personnel responded to a call when the 73-yearold owner was stuck in his home due to it being stuffed to the ceiling with hoarded items.
If the expense to clean the property goes unpaid by the end of the year, it will be added to and form part of the property's taxes in arrears.
editorial@ burnabynow.com
