House left to RSPCA 'neglected' after two years stood empty

Beverlie Scott, of Danecourt Nursing Home, died on July 2, 2022, leaving her house, Springfield Farm, to the animal welfare charity to sell.

Now a former neighbour of Ms Scott, who asked not to be named, is concerned the property ‘hasn’t been touched’ in the two years since she died.

The ‘once manicured gardens and beautiful pond with water lilies and fish’ are now ‘hidden beneath years of neglect’, he added.

He's also concerned about the fabric of the building, he says, as the house seems to be damp, to the extent tiles are falling off the kitchen walls. 

A year after Ms Scott died, there was open bread and rotting fruit still visible on the kitchen table, along with an open jar of marmalade and the last newspaper she’d read before leaving the house for the last time.

The RSPCA say it doesn't have legal title to the house, and has no legal authority to make changes (Image: Supplied)

He reported this to the RSPCA after seeing rats around the property, and someone did attend to clear up the mess inside the house.

He reported the neglect to the charity again in October 2023, and received a reply in November containing assurances arrangements were being made to clear the property.

It added the way the matter was being dealt with was ‘not acceptable’ and ‘not how the charity would wish for matters such as these to be handled’.

The 'once manicured' gardens are now very overgrown, according to Ms Scott's former neighbour (Image: Supplied)

However, no more work has been carried out at the house to date. 

Ms Scott’s neighbour said: “I just thought people would be interested to know this is what happens if you leave your estate to the RSPCA.”

The RSPCA says it has no legal authority to make any changes to the property at present, and probably never will, as the legal process means it will never have full title to the house.

This will remain with the solicitors, Susan Howarth & Co, and the executors of the estate until the house is sold.  

The neighbour says he's concerned about the fabric of the building (Image: Supplied)

An RSPCA spokesman said: “We are immensely grateful for the kindness of people like this homeowner who choose to remember charities in their will.

"Legacy income pays for one out of every two animals we help and without it much of our work would not be possible. 

 “Legal processes can take time and we understand concerns that neighbours have had about the upkeep of the property in Oakmere - which we have raised with the executors and solicitors administering this estate.

“Although the RSPCA is a beneficiary of this estate, we are not the executors and are not administering the estate, so we don’t have authority to take any action with the property.

“We have been reassured by the solicitor dealing with the administration that the future upkeep of the property is a priority.

“Arrangements were made for the property to be attended to earlier this year, and we have spoken with the estate’s solicitors once again this week to ensure that further upkeep is being arranged and carried out, whilst the relevant legal processes continue.”

A spokesman for Susan Howarth & Co solicitors said: "We take the issues raised seriously and will take immediate steps to investigate and resolve the issues."