NEIGHBOURS of vacant properties on Grimsby's Nunsthorpe Estate have called on council bosses to use their powers to take over the homes.
The call came as another house was deliberately gutted by fire, which could have threatened nearby properties.
Sunday's blaze happened just days after an ITV documentary highlighted how some people were leaving the estate due to anti-social behaviour.
As reported, Exposure: Driven From Home featured families who had left the area because of vandalism and vendettas.
The programme focussed on the privately-rented properties which had been left to rot and were targeted by youths. Today, investigators said the latest fire was in a two-storey building and was deliberately started in a downstairs room, using a mattress to ignite it.
The house, at the junction of Winthorpe Road and Redbourne Road, was unoccupied when the arsonists broke in at about 9.15pm.
Four fire engines, two from Cromwell Road and two from Peakes Lane fire stations, attended and crews quickly brought the flames under control.
A Humberside Fire And Rescue spokeswoman said there had been extensive damage caused to the property, which was under renovation.
She said only a small amount of smoke had gone through the wall to the neighbour's home because a roof void had been blocked up.
The neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "We have lived here for five years. It is a good neighbourhood and people are close-knit.
"It is a good community, but in every group you will get one or two who spoil it for everyone else.
"The council should be more active in taking over properties which are at risk. As soon as a place is empty for long, it starts to be used for fly-tipping."
A council spokesperson said: "It is the aim of the council to ensure that all residents of North East Lincolnshire have a home that is safe, secure, dry and not overcrowded.
"The council recognises that a thriving private housing sector provides an essential element in achieving this aim.
"It is our intention to put in place conditions that enable owners to comply with their statutory obligations and the appropriate use of enforcement powers is an important means of securing those conditions.
"The council will use all available legislation to ensure that the privately-rented housing stock within North East Lincolnshire is safe, maintained in good repair and well-managed.
"In addition, the council will use legislative powers to ensure all private dwellings do not pose a statutory nuisance."
A Humberside Police spokeswoman urged anyone with information about the arson attack to contact Humberside Police.
She said: "The property was unoccupied at the time of the incident and inquires are on going to establish the cause of the fire."
Anyone with information can call Humberside Police on 101, quoting log 811 of Sunday.
