NEIGHBOURS of a man who hoarded £50k of rusting cars in his garden have revealed that his collection brought a very unwelcome problem.
Eccentric businessman Rein Perens had motors including a £25,000 66 Porsche 911 and £20,000 1996 Mercedes C200 decaying in his backyard for years.
MediaWalesLocals say their lives were made hell by a rat-infested car graveyard Rein Perens refused to clear up[/caption]
MediaWalesRein Perens has now taken back ownership of the fleet, worth in excess of £50,000[/caption]
MediaWalesNeighbours said the mess brought rats to their affluent suburb[/caption]
Rein’s car collection sparked interest from dealers all over the UK and one even turned up on his doorstep with a chequebook in his hand.
But disgruntled locals in Pontcanna, Cardiff, were not happy with the unwelcome side-effects that his large collection brought.
Livid neighbours claim the mess brought rats to their affluent suburb with the council initially failing to clear up the infestation.
And the fuming residents blasted the cars as an “eyesore” and a massive health risk.
To make matters worse, Rein, 75, was never there, instead choosing to live at a caravan park six miles away.
The fleet of German cars were finally removed but it left Rein furious.
The council removed the vehicles using pest control legislation after reports that the car graveyard was crawling with rats.
Officials acted after a near ten-year battle with Rein in which council officers asked him to clean up the front and rear of the property and carry out maintenance work.
Locals in the area have now spoken of their relief after the motors were removed.
A neighbour, who didn’t want to be named, said: “We are happy the cars have gone – it was a terrible eyesore and there was a real rodent problem.
“We all felt sorry for the gentleman who was just very disorganised.”
However, following Cardiff Council’s seizure of the cars, Rein has now taken back ownership of the fleet, worth in excess of £50,000.
He was last living at the seaside Porthkerry Caravan park in Barry, but has since left and his whereabouts along with his car collection are a mystery.
One caravan dweller told The Sun: “He drove a big Mercedes car while he was here and he was a popular figure.
“But he’s off site now and no one knows where he’s gone.”
His neighbours in Cardiff are now demanding him to come back and sort out the crumbling three-storey house where the cars once lived.
One local told The Sun: “It’s a shame because the house used to be the best in the street but no one’s lived there for years and it’s falling apart.”
Rein claimed the stress of “threatening” letters from Cardiff Council caused him to suffer a bleed on the brain earlier this year.
Rein said at the time: “The letters I found threatening, but until this point I felt I was managing things nicely and I didn’t think there was any need for the council to get involved in this way
“I’ve never shouted or bawled at the council for the way I feel they’ve treated me. I have just carried on.
“I’d organised to clear the place, pass it on to the Chinese church next door and I’d be gone. But I am 75, I am alone, and it isn’t easy.”
A Cardiff Council spokesman confirmed Mr Perens had reclaimed the cars and their inquiries about the ownership of the house had established he was not the registered owner.
Media WalesRein Perens’ house at Llandaff Road after the council and Scott Waste Management Ltd visited[/caption]