The owner of a long-abandoned house on Victoria Road has been given a deadline to do the repairs.
In correspondence seen by the Advertiser, the owner of 57 Victoria Road, Oxford House, has been told he must begin works by the end of August or the council will take over repairs.
The now derelict house has stood empty for at least 20 years, and a neighbour says the house is an “eyesore” and drives down property prices.
An email from a Swindon Borough Council empty homes officer reads: “We are still receiving positive response from the owner and he is still requesting to have till end of August to sort it out himself. 
“Although the s215 notice is now active for us to carry out the works in default, I hope you can understand that It is in our best interest that we give him the time he has requested.”
A Section 215 orders a private landlord owner to clean up a property or potentially face a fine. If they fail, the council can clean up the house themselves and charge the owner for the cost.
The empty homes team are in the process of getting quotes for repairs, with some quotes already received.
These quotes have been shared with the owner, who “is still advising he will have this done in August”.
READ MORE: Derelict Oxford House a 'disgrace' for premier Victoria Road
The correspondence ends: “He is aware that if he does not do this, we will still follow through with the works in default.”
The house’s windows and doors are boarded up, with graffiti and shrubs hiding the facade of the once grand house.
The house has a venerable history, being the location of a financial business belonging to the family of suffragette Emily Pankhurst. In the 1980s, it was an architect’s office.
The officer says that before new windows and doors can be installed, a structure survey and initial repairs must be completed.
READ MORE: 'Help me' sign put up at abandoned Swindon house
A Swindon Borough Council spokesperson previously advised: “Bringing long-term empty homes back into use is often a very complicated and lengthy process.
“We always try to work with the owners of empty properties in the first instance to bring them up to standard with a view to them being occupied.”
Meanwhile, neighbours are unhappy with the house being unoccupied.
One, Agne, said: “If that house goes on fire, straight away it will spread into our house.
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