Environmental Health officers from Wolverhampton City Council issued an Emergency Prohibition Order on a property in Crowther Street, Park Village, last week, meaning the landlord could not continue to rent it out.
They visited the property in response to complaints about the dangerous condition of the semi detached house - along with officers from West Midlands Police who were investigating reports of anti social behaviour at the property - and found it to be uninhabitable.
As a result an Emergency Prohibition Order was immediately placed upon the property, preventing the premises from being used until the necessary improvements have been made.
Councillor Peter Bilson, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Prosperity, said: "We are determined to improve standards in the private rented sector where required, either informally or by using enforcement.
"The vast majority of our private landlords do a very good job, and the action we took last week demonstrates that we won't hesitate to get tough with those landlords who are failing to maintain their properties to an acceptable standard.
"In this case, officers found what can only be described as a building site, with most of the furniture removed, filthy fixtures and fittings, no electricity supply or lighting and building materials littered throughout.
"Making an Emergency Prohibition Order is very much a last resort, and one we will only take when landlords refuse to carry out the work required and there's an immediate risk to the health and wellbeing of the property's occupants."
He added: "I'd like to make it clear that the state of this house is not a reflection of the other properties in Crowther Street or indeed Park Village."
Neighbourhood Police Inspector Steve Perry said: "This property had blighted the lives of the local community for too long with reports of anti social behaviour taking place.
"We have listened to that and taken positive enforcement action with our partners to close it down.
"I'd like to thank the community for bringing these problems to our attention and with the public's support we can work together to make the community a safer and better place to live. It also sends out a message to private landlords that action will be taken if they fail to maintain their properties to a safe and acceptable standard."
To report an empty property, or a property in poor state of disrepair, please call Wolverhampton City Council on 01902 551155 or email city.direct@wolverhampton.gov.uk.
- released: Friday 6 March, 2015