A council spokesperson said the building control team is investigating the matterDan Haygarth Liverpool Daily Post Editor and Regeneration Reporter
18:15, 05 Aug 2025
Emergency services at the scene on Walton Breck Road, Anfield(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
An unsafe house which had to be evacuated yesterday was inspected in July but people continued living there. A large emergency service presence attended Walton Breck Road, near to Anfield Stadium, on Monday, as an unsafe property was cordoned off with two people inside.
A terraced house was found to be structurally unsound with a crack measuring approximately five metres, and the windows and bay sagging as a result. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) said crews were called at 3.06pm on Monday and arrived on scene nine minutes later.
The fire service said two occupants, who were conscious and breathing, were inside the house when it was cordoned off and were unable to leave without assistance. Properties adjacent to the affected premises were evacuated and a structural engineer was requested.
The cordon, which ran along Walton Breck Road from the junction with Sleepers Hill to the corner of Burleigh Road North, was put in place due to the number of people in the area for Liverpool’s double-header friendly against Athletic Bilbao. The first game kicked off at 5pm before another match began at 8pm.
Emergency services worked to vacate the occupants from the unsafe property – members of the MFRS search and rescue team shored the inside doorway of the property for crews to gain access to the premises.
Emergency services at the scene on Walton Breck Road, Anfield(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
By 7.29pm, the occupants had been vacated. One person was taken to hospital by North West Ambulance Service.
At the scene, a Walton Breck Road resident told the ECHO the property had been reported to Liverpool City Council in July. She added: “This has been reported to the council. The council assessed it. The council are aware of this – it’s the second time it’s happened.”
In an updated statement issued yesterday evening, the fire service said: “An additional multi-agency meeting took place with NWAS, Merseyside Police, and a structural engineer.
“It was determined that the house is unfit to be occupied, though there isn’t any significant deterioration since an inspection one month ago.”
After the residents’ claims were put to them, a Liverpool City Council spokesperson told the ECHO: “Liverpool City Council’s Building Control team is investigating this matter.”
The full updated statement from MFRS stated: “MFRS crews formulated a plan alongside multi-agency partners to assist and enable the occupants to vacate the premises safely.
“This was completed at 7.29pm and one resident, conscious and breathing, was conveyed to hospital by NWAS.
“The local authority erected fencing around the property and Merseyside Police are arranging the boarding up of the premises. Alternative accommodation is also being sought for the occupants.
“A hot debrief took place and an external handover was completed. Crews made up their equipment and left the scene at 7.38pm.”