Decision Details

002485 has been abandoned by its current owner who refuses to engage with officers over the future of the property. The property has been receiving complaints from neighbours for a considerable time due to leaking gutters and overgrown gardens that have a detrimental impact on the neighbourhood. The City Council has incurred costs under S.215 of the Town and country Planning Act 1990 to deal with damp and security issues amounting to over £850. These appear as a land charge on the property. Although this falls short of the £1,000 trigger debt the owner also has Council tax debts in excess of £16,000

There is very limited chance that the current owner will take any steps to bring the property into use, pay the debt or sell the property in order for the Council to recover its debts.

The Enforced Sale Policy enables officers to use appropriate powers to recover debts incurred in dealing with empty properties including the enforced sale of the property if the costs exceed £1,000. The policy also allows for the use of those powers for a lower debt as an exception to policy if the debt is unlikely to be recovered and the property is a blight to the community.

The Council has the power to make a Compulsory Purchase Order but this is more burdensome process and requires the authority to secure funds to compensate the owners. Enforced sale is a simpler less costly process.

A number of portfolio’s are affected

Communities Health and Wellbeing (Health and Wellbeing)

Economy, Enterprise and Housing (Housing Strategy