At Doncaster Council, we are asking owners of empty homes to complete the attached e form survey to give us a clearer understanding of why homes are left empty. We also want your views relating to different types of assistance which could help owners bring their empty homes back into use. The results from this survey will help us improve our service.
Houses become empty for a variety of reasons. For example:
A deceased owner, resulting in the property becoming the subject of a probate dispute.
Tenants leave and the owners cannot be contacted.
Properties which have been owned prior to compulsory land title registration and amendments under Section 1 of the Land Registration Act 1997.
Empty properties where the owner refuses to carry out renovation or maintain the property without some form of financial assistance.
In many cases, the longer a property remains empty the greater the problem becomes the more negative attention it receives. This creates problems for residents living in adjoining properties and the neighbourhood in general. Often incidences of squatting, drug taking, fly tipping and fires occur in empty properties. These incidences often impact on those living either side.
Doncaster Council has a range actions, informal and formal to return an empty property to use.
For example:
Free property inspections to offer advice in respect of Category 1 hazards present in the properties prior to re letting/ selling.
Advice and assistance.
The possibility of purchasing the property – where it forms part of a strategic or community programme
A matching scheme- putting together owners and prospective purchasers. It should be noted: Doncaster Council does not recommend any purchaser. The choice of purchaser is at the discretion of the owner.
The use of formal enforcement action.
Notices can be served on the owners of properties with refuse in their gardens or where an empty property requires securing.
Enforced Sale Procedure (ESP) can be used to return the property to use. This action also allows the Council to recovery any debts for certain Notices carried out by the Council on an empty property.
Finally, the Council can compulsorily purchase the property (CPO) under several acts. Where objections are raised a Government Inspector will review the case allowing representation from the owner and the Council. If the CPO is approved in favour of the Council the owner will be offered a price determined by the District Valuer (subject to arbitration). This action may also be undertaken as a result of a property being included in an area which forms part of a Clearance Area or Group Repair Scheme.
Doncaster Council has a policy to encourage sustained tenancy and occupation which enhances the local economy of the area and prevents environmental degradation.
An empty property strategy has been produced and is at present being updated to include new innovations and best practices for returning empty properties to use.
The objectives of the strategy are:
To identify the number of empty properties borough wide
Track empty properties and liaise with various internal partners within Doncaster Council to maintain a database
To respond quickly to public concern
To be proactive and understand the trends related to empty properties
To identify best practices to return empty properties to sustained use and abate the problems often associated with empty properties.
If you have an empty property in your street that is causing concern, email us on the link provided below, telephone us, or use the e-form attached to this page.
We will visit the property
We will contact the owner and ask for their intentions for the property
We will offer advice and assistance to the owner to help bring the property back into use
All necessary action legal or other wise, will be taken to return the property back to use
eform: Report an Empty Property
Contact: Strategic Housing - Housing Enforcement on 01302 737302
email: housing.standards@doncaster.gov.uk
