Some Mosgiel residents are concerned an empty house in their street has become a fire danger, after the grass was left to grow and the house became run down.
But they have not been able to convince the Fire Service or the Dunedin City Council there is a problem.
However, the council has agreed to send a compliance officer to look at the property.
The residents say the home has been mostly empty for about three years, and they last saw the owner in 2013.
Clyde St resident Judith Harris said she had approached the Mosgiel Volunteer Fire Brigade and was advised to ask the neighbour to mow the grass.
She said if the grass caught fire, her home would be in danger.
''It's a fire hazard, and a burglary hazard.''
Last October, high winds picked up a garden shed on the property, lifted it over the Harris' fence and into the property of a neighbour.
Another neighbour, Frances Vincent, said she was concerned the house was run down.
She had contacted the council about the house, but nothing had happened.
Acting regulatory services group manager Adrian Blair said he had no record of that, but planned to send a compliance officer this week.
The council could intervene only when a property was considered dangerous under the Building Act.
The Act says a building is dangerous if it is likely to cause injury or death, by collapse or otherwise, to anyone in it or on another property; or if in the event of fire, injury or death to anyone in the building or on another property is likely.
The owner of the house could not be contacted.
