Compulsory purchase of empty homes by the council
The council has started taking action to compulsory purchase some private sector homes which are left unoccupied.
Why would the council want to purchase a private sector empty house?
Empty homes are a wasted resource, attract pests and vermin, and are often associated with criminal activity, such as fly-tipping and graffiti.
Furthermore, there is a high demand for housing in the borough, and by returning a property back into use, we can help another household find a home.
What action will be taken?
Firstly, every step will be taken to contact the owner, in order to help them repair and occupy the dwelling. If it is not possible to locate the owner or get them to respond or if they appear to be uninterested in turning the property into a home the council may take ownership of the property through a ‘Compulsory Purchase Order’ (CPO).
What happens once the council has possession of the house?
The property will be sold at auction with a convenant stating the property is to be brought back into use within a certain time frame.
Depending on the conditions of the sale, the home will then either be added to the social housing stock, let to a homeless household or ‘keyworker’ on a long-term lease, or sold on the open market once it has been brought up to a reasonable standard.
What other options are possible?
Applying for a Compulsory Purchase Order is a long process and tends to be used as a last resort, once all other avenues have been exhausted. The other options that will be considered before this action is taken includes providing advice on:
- how the property could be brought back into use
- letting options, including longer-term leases
- council letting schemes
- grants and loans, including Empty Property Grants.