Neighbours have been trying to get something done about a foul-smelling, derelict property, which has been strewn with rubbish, whiteware, and wrecked cars.

It only takes one rotten house to spoil the whole street, as a neighbourhood in the Rangitīkei town of Marton has found out.

A derelict, "disgusting" property on Waitere St has hindered house sales and held up home improvements, according to residents who claim they have been plagued by its proximity for the past two years.

The front yard of the property has been covered in rubbish bags, abandoned whiteware, and wrecked cars.

Shirley Reay, 81, who lives across the street, said the house was a disgusting eyesore and smelt terrible on hot days.

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DAVID UNWIN/STUFF Retiree Shirely Reay says she has struggled to sell her Waitere St property, with at least five potential buyers citing the state of the house across the street.

She said she had been struggling to sell her home, with at least five potential buyers citing the state of the offending property as a hindrance.

"Nobody will seriously look at this house while that's there."

But relief from the rot may finally be at hand.

After six residents sent letters to Rangitīkei District Council demanding it take action, the property was inspected.

Council chief executive Ross McNeil said a cleanup notice had been issued under the Health Act, giving the owners until Tuesday to sort out the mess.

Reay said some of the family who owned the property turned up on Saturday to start cleaning.

DAVID UNWIN/STUFF Trash is finally being removed from the front yard of a Marton property that been plaguing a neighbourhood for two years.

When Stuff approached a man who was sweeping the footpath out front, he declined to comment but soon started yelling from across the road, telling Reay to "stop running your mouth".

Neighbour Sam Priddle said this was a typical reaction. He had tried to talk to the people who lived there about cleaning up the property but got little response barring threats.

"They've done a couple of partial tidy ups over the past two years, but nothing that made a real difference."

Priddle said he had been planning to do improvements to his home for some time, but it was pointless while the house across the road was dragging down the value of his house.

He was pleased the council had stepped in.

"It's a good feeling, knowing they're finally coming to the party."

The cleanup couldn't come soon enough for Reay. She had been waiting 18 months for a flat to become available at a Feilding rest home, and needed to sell her house and move in by October.

If she missed the deadline she would have to wait another 18 months.