Mac n Janet - if they are taxing windows, pass me the bricks! lol.

The window they are bricking up (not sure if they will do it fully, will keep the gossip coming) is the room that was the kitchen.

When we bought the house in 1994 there was an older couple there, who we never really heard. The lady used to stop hoovering at 7am, but otherwise we hardly saw or heard them. They moved out and That Landlord bought it, for pennies. Apparently, listening to gossip and getting talking to various people, the upstairs rooms aren't fully wired, and the kitchen was described as downright dangerous with only two power outlets.

Having said that, the last family didn't really appreciate That Landlord's approach to repairs and maintenance, and after installing a new kitchen they took it with them when they left. As far as I can tell, hearsay etc, they gutted the house.

That must be two years ago now because the house had been empty some time before last January when some scallies broke in and tried to steal the copper piping. However when the water in that property is turned off, our water is shut off, so the miscreants were caught quite quickly after half the street noticed that something was up and went to complain to That Landlord. And credit to That Landlord, he did get the water back on within 24 hrs.

So the house has been a bit battered. If it was a car the insurance would have probably written it off. It is completely north facing as well, so it must be a dark and cold house, and it faces onto a very busy road. So I have no idea what is going on there, but as long as any neigbours are quiet I am not going to grumble.