The owner of a vulnerable unused Grade II listed building taken over by squatters has been told to complete vital repair work.

The Home of Compassion in Thames Ditton High Street, a former care home for the elderly, was occupied by squatters in October.

Owner Caring Homes, which bought the Georgian-era mansion in 2008, has now served the squatters with an eviction notice, but there are concerns about the long-term future of the building after it was damaged during a spate of criminal activity prior to the squatters’ occupation.

The company was granted permission to start a new care home in the building two years ago, but it has since remained unused.

Criticism has been levelled at Caring Homes’ security arrangements for the building since the squatters moved in.

Elmbridge Council has now written to Caring Homes informing it the repair work must be carried out on the Home of Compassion by November 29.

In the letter, the council warns Caring Homes it believes the building to be “very vulnerable”.

A council spokesman said: “The former Home of Compassion is a Grade II listed building and Elmbridge Council has been regularly monitoring its condition.

“The council has recently written again to the owners, Caring Homes, regarding its current condition and the remedial works required, and is awaiting a response from them.”

Under the planning act, the council would execute the work and then recover the costs from Caring Homes.

The council could eventually serve a compulsory purchase order, allowing it to obtain the property without the consent of Caring Homes, if it believed the historic building to be at risk.

During a residents’ meeting in Thames Ditton last week, Gari Corbett, who lived opposite the mansion until two weeks ago, said: “I am fed up with police blue lights flashing regularly because of [in the past] people breaking in, using it as a drugs den, setting fire to the roof and stealing the lead. It is an important building.”

A spokesman for Caring Homes said: “Caring Homes has been working very closely with the relevant authorities to legally regain possession of the Home of Compassion and we are confident this issue will be brought to a positive conclusion very soon.

“We have remained in contact with the community throughout this process, including councillors and representatives from the residents’ association.

“As soon as the current occupation of the home is brought to an end we will be taking all necessary steps to secure the building and will continue to work with the community throughout this process.”