Properties are left empty for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, owners need help and guidance to bring them back into use, for example, advice about how to sell the property, or how to go about renting it out. In the first instance, the council will work with owners to help them to find a solution to get the property brought back into use.
If the owner of an empty property does not work with the council or makes insufficient effort to bring an empty property back into use, it may be necessary to take formal action which can include:
- applying for a compulsory purchase order (CPO) on a property which is derelict or abandoned and where the owner provides no plans for bringing the property back into use
- using the enforced sales procedure, which enables the council to sell any vacant property to recover debt owing to the council. Where there is money owing to the council, a charge is placed on the property before it is sold through an auction
- applying for an Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO). Once approved, an EDMO gives the council the right to possession of a property without taking over its ownership. Once an EDMO has been made, the council can do most things the owner would normally be entitled to do with the property, such as; entering it to inspect its condition and even manage it.