Residential property
Empty homes
The councils strike back While the number of empty properties throughout the country is on the rise, the misconception persists that local authorities are doing nothing to bring them back into use. But nothing could be further from the truth Jan Ambrose
The recent BBC1 series The Empty Housing Scandal has thrown the state of the UK’s long-term vacant properties into sharp relief. Although there are an estimated 200,000 empty homes – including 11,000 unoccupied for more than ten years – it is simplistic to think that these offer a quick fix for the UK’s housing problems. Research by the National Housing Federation confirms that the current shortage in England has reached 4m homes (bit.ly/NHFEng4mhomes). It is therefore in everyone’s interests to bring vacant homes back into use. Such buildings can quickly fall into a dangerous condition, with pigeons and other vermin entering, water penetration, as well as wet and dry rot. These factors may have an impact on surrounding properties: besides decreasing the value of neighbouring homes, they can soon become the venue for antisocial activities, such as vandalism, drug-taking and even 36 Journal July/August 2019
prostitution, while squatters may also move in. Empty properties are often found in highly desirable areas where houses can fetch prices of more than £500,000, and obviously their derelict state doesn’t enhance the chances of neighbouring homeowners who want to sell up and move away. Houses that have been vacant for any length of time need more than a fresh coat of paint and a new kitchen and bathroom. The UK’s huge housing deficit means that people are living in totally unsuitable accommodation, such as emergency bed and breakfast, hopelessly overcrowded dwellings, or, of course, swelling the ranks of those sleeping on the streets. As far as private landlords are concerned, too, an empty home is an expensive headache. Rogue tenants may have disappeared suddenly, leaving rent unpaid and the house damaged – and the landlord, who hasn’t a clue where they are, is left with a vacant property in such a disgusting state it can’t
be re-let without first spending a lot of money to make it habitable. Meanwhile, the local authority faces a triple whammy: it may not even know about the empty home until advised of it, either by the neighbours or perhaps an alert delivery person. Even then, it is not a simple matter of slapping a compulsory purchase order (CPO) on a derelict dwelling – there is serious detective work entailed in identifying the owner or, if they are deceased, those who expect to inherit. This can take years; it involves interrogating public records such as the Land Registry and using probate research companies. This comprehensive search becomes even more complex if it transpires that there is more than one owner or beneficiary. During this time, the council is empowered to display a section 86 notice under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to secure the property against any unauthorised entry (bit.ly/AsBCPAct14).