Empty Residential Properties

An Empty Property is a domestic premise that has been vacant more than 6 months.

There are about 1300 properties in NWL district which are currently empty. There are several reasons for this.

• For sale – awaiting buyer
• For rent – awaiting tenants
• Owner deceased
• Awaiting probate
• Repossession
• Structural repair or major alteration
• "DIY project” which has stalled

There are several class of properties which are exempt from Empty Property status. These include:

• The owner is receiving or giving care or treatment in hospital or care home
• The owner lives elsewhere for long periods of time due to work
• commitments (e.g. Armed Forces Service Personnel)
• Second homes

Working with Owners, Not Against Them

The Council wants to work with property owners to help return properties to use. Formal legal action will be considered where owners refuse to bring the property back into use or are unwilling to cooperate with the Council.

North West Leicestershire District Councils Empty Properties Policy

Empty Property Policy Approved 010708 (PDF Document, 2.5 Mb)

Potential Problems

These properties can quickly become an eye sore. They can attract littering, fly tipping, pests, vandalism, arson and more serious forms of anti social behaviour.

The Affect on the Local Community

An empty property can have a signifi cant detrimental affect on the amenity of the area. An “eye sore” property makes the area look run down and can put people off living there. A dilapidated property can also lower the value of neighbouring houses by as much as 18%.

The Council Has Powers to Deal With:

Overgrown Garden

An overgrown front garden can be an eye sore and can provide a good breeding ground for vermin.

Littering and Fly Tipping

Empty properties often have accumulations of junk mail and litter in the curtilage of properties. They may also become targets for fly tipping.

Pests

Food waste and soft furnishing (such as mattresses, carpets and other fabrics) can provide harborage for rats and mice.

Unsecured Premises

The property owner has a responsibility to ensure the property is secure from unauthorised entry. Empty properties can appear to be an “exciting” playground for children. They may also attract antisocial behaviour such as alcohol and drug use, vandalism, arson and prostitution.

Dangerous or Ruinous and Dilapidated Properties

The council can require repair or restoration works to be carried out on buildings thatare dangerous or in such a state as to be seriously detrimental to the amenity of the neighbourhood. The Council also has powers to issue a demolition order for the whole of part of a building.

Reporting an Empty Property

If you would like to report an empty property, please contact the Empty Property Officer at North West Leicestershire District Council. Bringing empty properties back into use

Nationally there is a shortage of housingas a result this shortage drives house prices up. This can lead to pressure to build on Greenfield and green belt sites. New housing developments can alter the character of rural villages and areas.

There are enough empty properties to house everyone on the Councils Social Housing waiting list. In addition to this, the Council spends £180,000 each year providing emergency accommodation for homeless families. These empty properties could be used to home such people.

Many areas in the district are highly desirable places to live in. Limited housing stock means that first time buyers can find it difficult to get on the property ladder in rural areas. As a result, young people who have grown up in the area cannot find a home to live in and may be forced to move away. This can have a significant and long lasting impact on the local economy and the district the as a whole.

Tackling Empty Properties

There are numerous options available to the Council in order to bring properties back into use.

Working with owners

The Council prefers to work in partnership with owners. This includes providing information or advice on selling or renting properties; or landlords and tenants rights and legal responsibilities.

Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO)

The Council can apply for an EDMO. This gives the Council powers to put a tenant in place and restricted rights to manage the property for 12 months.

Final Management Order (FMO)

The Council can apply for a FMO after an EDMO. This is for 7 years and gives the Council more legal powers to manage the property.

Enforced Sale

If there is a charge against the property (e.g. for works carried out in default) amounting to £XXXXX then the Council can recover the debt by forcing the sale of the property.

Compulsory Purchase Order

If the owner refuses to bring the property back into use, the Council can forcefully purchase the property off the owner. The owner will receive a fair market value as determined by an independent estate agent.