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Couple buys dream home and disappears...22 years later, they're nowhere to be found

In 2002, in Aubusson (a French town in the Creuse region), an Irish couple bought a big house...and never set foot in it. 22 years later, the Irish have yet to be found. 

The house has been unoccupied since the date of purchase. It's now in a deplorable state and even threatens to collapse. As the Irish owners have never set foot in the house, maintenance has been sorely lacking. 

“In 22 years, the house has never been renovated. Tiles are falling from the roof and the front of the house is crumbling,” reports France 3 Nouvelle-Aquitaine, relayed by Demotivateur. Despite the installation of protective netting and a security perimeter, the threat remains. Neighbors testify: “We've got damp all over the walls, because the house next door is collapsing. We can't do any work until it's demolished.” 

To put the smiles back on the faces of local residents, Stéphane Ducourtioux, the mayor of the Creuse sub-prefecture, turned to the courts. He tried several times to contact the owner, to no avail. “He's nowhere to be found,” he declared. Although the courts have given the go-ahead for the house to be demolished, the mayor still has a bone to pick: “The owner is responsible for the demolition, but it's the commune that's acting on the owner's behalf. We're working at a loss, and we know perfectly well that we'll never get the money back.” 

(MH with AsD - Source : Demotivateur - Illustration : Unsplash)

Melissa Hekkers

Melissa Hekkers

English journalist @Tagtik

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