Are you concerned about a house near you that may be empty?

Properties, which remain empty for long periods, can attract vandalism, harbour rubbish and create other problems that affect the local community. They are also more likely to fall into disrepair and become an eyesore. These problems become more expensive to resolve the longer the property is kept vacant.

Who do I contact?

The Private Sector Housing team provides a first point of contact for property owners and the public. The team can be contacted on (01582) 474064 or emailed on private.housing@southbeds.gov.uk

If you contact the team your enquiry will be recorded and any available known information about the property will be examined. In most cases the property will be visited by an Officer to determine any immediate problems and can take enforcement action to make them secure or remove hazardous waste where necessary. However, the ownership of the property needs to be ascertained and (where possible) the owner will be contacted to ascertain his/her short and long term intentions for the dwelling and provided with advice on how to bring the house back into use.

What can you offer owners of empty homes?

Our aim is to point owners towards any available help, to enable them to return the property to residential use. If the owner wishes to sell the property, the Private Sector Housing team sometimes has enquiries from people specifically wanting to purchase and renovate empty houses.

If an owner is considering renovating the property in order to rent out but cannot afford the costs, the council may consider grant assistance towards the cost of the works in return for the council having nomination rights for an agreed period to let the refurbished house to a family on the councils housing waiting list. The grant levels will generally be in line with the length of the agreed nomination period but grants can be up to 10,000.

Where an owner wants to develop and sell the property the Private Sector Housing team may be able to provide advice on what works are needed to meet standards for letting. Technical and/or building advice may be provided or the owner directed to where such advice can be obtained.

What happens if the owner keeps the property empty for many years and refuses help from the council (or cannot be found)?

Where all attempts from the Private Sector Housing team have not resulted in the empty property being brought back into use, there is only the threat of compulsory purchase action (where the council acquires the property following a successful Government enquiry) that can be used. However, compulsory purchase action requires a large level of resources without a guarantee of success and it is not currently the councils policy to follow such a line.

In 2006, the Government are introducing new legislation to include the concept of Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs). These EDMOs allow a council to apply for the management of a long-term empty property without taking ownership. EDMOs can be for a short or long period and can allow a council to refurbish a property and then let it to someone in housing need from the housing waiting list. Guidance on EDMOs is expected from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in the near future and South Beds District Council will look at the practicalities and advantages of using EDMOs to help bring empty homes back into use.