You're so right, they should not have allowed it to deteriorate like that but I think the problem also lies with the building owners, many who really just don't care about maintaining the buildings or maybe are no longer around. I know our local councilor was having a problem with some properties being invaded by squatters and when I looked up the ownership many of them were late estate properties where the family have moved away and can't be traced. Quite sad to think someone lived in those homes once upon a time and their children or family did not even care about them and probably never went to visit them!
But fortunately they have uplifted a large number of those properties already.
!tip .20