What can the Council do?
The Council has a range of enforcement options it can use if owners of empty properties refuse to take steps to bring the property back into use, these include:
- Compulsory Purchase – The Council buys the property without consent of the owner and sells it on for redevelopment and reoccupation
- Forced Sale – The Council forces the sale of the property to recover a debt which exists against the property
- Empty Dwelling Management Order – The Council takes over the management of the property and renovates it prior to placing a tenant in the dwelling
Please Note: The Council will only consider these options in the most extreme cases. They are costly, complicated and time consuming. It is preferable for all parties if the owner takes steps to bring the property back into use without the Council having to resort to enforcement action.
For further advice and assistance, please contact the Empty Homes Team.
