Report an empty property
We work with empty property owners to bring empty properties back into use and take enforcement action when empty properties fall into disrepair or cause problems for the local community.
Empty properties tend to have a negative effect on the surrounding area, suffer from disrepair, vandalism, and pests, and often attract antisocial behaviour. They also remove a valuable source of housing for our community and negatively affect adjacent properties.
Empty properties come in several different forms and could include:
- derelict or abandoned house or flats
- empty second homes or holiday homes
- unoccupied properties purchased as investments
- unused flats or accommodation attached to shops and restaurants
- empty commercial property
Not all properties will be classed as empty homes as they may be unoccupied for legitimate reasons such as building work, probate, or the owner may be working away from home.
It is sometimes difficult to tell if a property is unoccupied, tell-tale signs may include:
- disrepair to the exterior and windows
- boarded-up windows or doors
- no evidence of comings or goings
- accumulation of post
- no lights on in the property
- enhanced security measures
- no waste collection