The lights are on but nobody’s home in an abandoned family property.

The house, in Burnham Road Chingford, still has the lights on even though it has been empty for nearly 2 years after the bed-ridden owner was lifted by crane out of her house and taken into care.

Her son, who was her carer, has disappeared, leaving the house to crumble and rot.

Neighbour, Kellie Taylor, 40, is worried that the lights being constantly on could lead to a house fire and says the back of the house is “on the verge of collapse.”

With the windows and doors long gone, a gaping hole has allowed nature to reclaim the house and provide a home to a family of foxes and rats.

She said: “I’m just hoping it doesn’t get worse.”

Mrs Taylor has spent around £3,000 trying to keep the overgrown “jungle” next door at bay and replacing garden fence panels that are repeatedly forced down by the out-of-control adjacent garden.

She has reported the problem to the council, but was told there is nothing that can be done as the house is privately owned.

Mrs Taylor said: “I thought at least the council might be able to assist with the garden.

“We’re at the end of our tether.

A spokesman for the council said: “It’s a private property, so it is the duty of the owner to deal with these issues.

“We issued the property with a prohibition order about a year ago as it is deemed unsafe to live in.

“We are pressing the owner to do something about the house.”