7.1 Information for owners of empty homes
Where possible local authorities aim to work with owners of empty properties in a voluntary way and bring empty properties back into use using the following methods:
• Renting through council leasing or rent deposit schemes.
• Private renting through a private agency – letting agencies will offer a range of management services.
• Private renting with the owner as landlord.
• Selling the property - on the open market through an estate agent or at an auction.
• Financial assistance may be available if the property requires refurbishment.
There are various financial assistance schemes for Empty Homes operating across the country. Local authorities may offer some form of financial assistance for owners of Empty Homes that can meet part of the eligible costs of bringing an empty property up to the decent homes standard.
Often any funding is conditional upon the owner being willing to let the property for a fixed period of time at an affordable rent.
7.2 Information for you as a member of the public
Most local authorities have a policy where it does not disclose lists of empty properties due to the data protection act. However requests can be made in writing to the Empty Homes Officer citing the Freedom of Information Act 2000 if they wish to have a formal response to this request.
7.3 Enforcement options available to the local authority
Where an owner persistently leaves a property empty which is in a poor condition or in an area of high housing need local authorities may take the following action:
• Report property to other council departments such as Private Housing Service and Planning, in relation to poor condition of property.
• Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO): Where property is in poor condition, in an area of housing need and the owner has resisted all voluntary attempts to bring the property back into use.
• Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO): This is a new power introduced in England from April 2006 which allows councils to take over the management of residential properties, where an owner of an empty property has turned down offers of help to bring the property back into use, and can offer no good reason why the property should remain empty. The council would facilitate any capital works needed to allow the property to be leased and use the property to accommodate people in housing need for up to 7 years