An elderly Adelaide man is refusing to leave the house he has been living in since he was born after it was deemed unfit for humans.
Royce Wells, 75, has until March 7 to vacate his home after the South Australian Government declared his Eastwood property ‘unsafe or unsuitable for human habitation’, the Advertiser reported.
He was told to leave last Saturday but a friend of his managed to get Mr Wells a 30-day extension.
But Mr Wells is refusing to leave and believes the items piled up in his home are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Royce Wells, 75, has until March 7 to vacate his home after the South Australian Government declared the property ‘unsafe or unsuitable for human habitation’
He was told to leave last Saturday but a friend of his managed to get Mr Wells a 30-day extension
But Mr Wells is refusing to leave and believes the items piled up in his home are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars
Safety inspectors found no toilet, bathroom, kitchen or laundry, and no running water in the house.
Mr Wells claims the oldest book in his house is more than 300 years old and the oldest record is 100 years old.
‘I’ve got the largest historical collection in the state [that’s] privately owned.’
Mr Wells’ friend Alex Frayne shared incredible photos of him and the house on Facebook, asking for help.
‘Over the years he has aged,’ Mr Frayne said.
‘It’s quite a dark image of a man who’s not in a great space.’
Safety inspectors found no toilet, bathroom, kitchen or laundry, and no running water in the house
Mr Wells claims the oldest book in his house is more than 300 years old and the oldest record is 100 years old
Mr Wells’ friend Alex Frayne shared incredible photos of him and the house on Facebook, asking for help
Mr Wells has been living in the house by himself after his mother died in 1973
Parts of its ceiling are missing and possums moved into the ceiling in the late 1990s
The property is known by locals as the ‘House of Psychedelia’ because of its colourful front fence
His house was built in 1881, and his grandparents bought it in 1915.
Mr Wells has been living in the house by himself after his mother died in 1973.
The property is known by locals as the ‘House of Psychedelia’ because of its colourful front fence.
Parts of its ceiling are missing and possums moved into the ceiling in the late 1990s.
‘They chewed through the rafters and then the rafters collapsed. They have fights in the ceiling,’ Mr Wells said.
The back part of the house is unsalvageable but Mr Wells believes the front five rooms could be restored.
Mr Wells has been offered a Housing Trust unit, but local councillor and nearby resident Di Wilkins said the house could be saved and Mr Wells should not be kicked out.
The back part of the house is unsalvageable but Mr Wells believes the front five rooms could be restored
Mr Wells has been offered a Housing Trust unit, but local councillor and nearby resident Di Wilkins said the house could be saved and Mr Wells should not be kicked out
His house was built in 1881, and his grandparents bought it in 1915