I’m devastated after council took my classic cars as my garden was too messy

A CLASSIC car enthusiast has been left devastated after the local council took his collection away because his garden was too messy.

Rein Perens, 75, claimed that officials used legislation on abandoned homes to remove three of his vehicles, which he kept in his overgrown front yard, saying he “couldn’t believe it”.

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Rein, from Cardiff, Wales, said: “I feel worried, tired and worn out. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the images [of the cars being removed].”

He also claimed that the council had been sending him “threatening” letters saying he could lose the house, which he inherited when his godmother died, because of the state he allowed it to fall into.

The city council said that it took the action after a 10-year struggle with Rein, in which he was asked to clean up the property and carry out maintenance work.

Rein, meanwhile, alleged that the council first got in touch just a year ago asking him to provide proof that he owned the property, with him presenting his godmother’s will.

The trio of cars that were removed, including a 1966 Porsche 911 worth £25,000, had sat unused at his home for 15 years.

The rest of his collection are at a separate rented site in Cardiff, but are almost invisible because it has become so overgrown.

Former garage owner Rein said he had been working to clear the house and its garden, but was limited by ill health.

He was admitted to hospital this week with a bleed on the brain, which he blamed on excess stress.

He recalled: “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.”

He added that he intended to sell the cars at the same time as the house, before they were removed, even claiming that a passerby offered tens of thousand of pounds for them.

Rein continued: “I lived at Llandaff Road as and when I felt like living there after it was left to me by my godmother.

“I have always enjoyed doing things at the house. I would cut things down and take the timber and waste away for kindling.

“I liked the hedge because it gave some privacy and kept the noise out, but they’ve completely removed the hedge now. I think it’s vandalism.”

He explained that he built his collection through buying interesting classics on his travels then, if they broke down, buying a new one to use in the meantime.

Cardiff City Council said that it acted under an empty dwelling management order, which allows it to seize empty properties as a last resort.

A spokesperson said that it is a priority to reduce the number of empty homes due to the “national housing shortage”.

They added that they have been receiving complaints about the house since 2014 and have not seen “definitive evidence” that Rein owns it.

The council confirmed they last contacted him in September 2021, before informing him of the order in February last year.

Upon arriving at the property, the spokesperson said it was found in “extremely poor condition” and the decision was made to remove the “abandoned vehicles”.

They confirmed that the cars had not been destroyed and that Rein could collect them if he can prove his ownership of them and promises not to return them to the house or store them with “detriment to others.”

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