A West London homeowner has been ordered to clear his "jungle-like" garden, which neighbours say has made their properties unsellable. Nicholas Halbritter, a former Conservative councillor and head of the Chelsea branch of the Royal British Legion, will be served a Section 215 notice by Kensington and Chelsea Council after councillors approved the move. This is the second such notice against him regarding the garden's condition.
Neighbour Complaints
Neighbours report years of issues including mosquito swarms, overgrown knotweed reaching 15 feet, and odors from a decaying corpse reportedly found in the property. A petition signed by 48 locals in October 2024 demanded action. Nick Hoexter, who lives next door, said he cannot open his windows on hot days due to smell from a burst water pipe unrepaired for two years. He also noted families of foxes and rats have taken refuge in the rotting property.
Christine Hastings, another neighbour, said she has tried speaking to Halbritter but he "runs away" or "slams the door." She added: "My husband died four years ago so I'm mostly here alone and at some point I need to sell this house but you can't sell a house with knotweed next door – I'm completely stuck."
Council and Political Response
A council report stated no testing confirmed knotweed presence, but Chelsea and Fulham MP Ben Coleman questioned its reliability. Ward Councillor Marie-Therese Rossi called the document "fallacious." Despite officer recommendations against enforcement, the Planning Sub-Committee issued the Section 215 notice. Halbritter previously failed to comply with a 2016 notice from Hammersmith and Fulham Council, leading to prosecution in 2017. He later cleared the area, but neighbours doubt professional treatment occurred, as knotweed requires three years to treat.
New complaints in 2022 and 2024 were reviewed but not deemed warranting a Section 215 notice. The council's Corporate Complaint Service agreed in July 2025. In January 2026, officers wrote to Halbritter but received no response. The council now proceeds with the notice under relevant legislation.
Halbritter did not respond to a request for comment.
