An empty home needs to be looked after just as much as one
that is lived in. Not only will you save money by looking after
your property but you won't fall foul of the law.
As the person responsible for an empty home you must make sure
that both the house and the garden are kept tidy. If rubbish
gathers in the garden, the Council can take action to make you
clear it away this could cost you money. You should make sure that
the gardens are kept clear of rubbish and are regularly cut back
during the summer and that the outside of the house is kept clean
and tidy. This will help prevent pests such as mice and rats making
their home in your property and causing a danger to public
health.
You need to keep an empty home secure. If someone gains entry
and is injured in the property, you could be liable for damages. If
they cause damage to any adjacent properties, you could be liable
to pay the cost. Doors and windows need to be locked and secured.
You may need to consider arranging a contract with a security
company to keep an eye on your property.
You must prevent an empty property falling into disrepair and
becoming unsightly and dangerous. The law says that an empty
property must not become a nuisance to or threaten the safety of
people nearby or damage the local environment. You should make sure
that the roof is in good order, that the gutters and downpipes are
in good condition and are not clogged up, that none of the windows
are broken and that all the brickwork and masonry are secure.
If you break the law and don't look after your empty property,
the Council can take action to force you to do the work or arrange
for work to be done and pass the cost back to you. In extreme
cases, when a property is a serious risk to the safety of people
nearby or to the quality of the local environment, the Council can
knock it down and pass the full cost of this back to you.
Ultimately, the Council can compulsorily purchase your property, if
this is the only way we can serve the best interests of the
community.
An empty home costs money. One official estimate suggests that
an empty home can cost its owner and the Council up to £6,000 per
year.
Vandals and trespassers can cause an immense amount of damage
to an empty property which can affect the quality of the
neighbourhood, reducing property values and creating a sense of
decline and decay.
You can help prevent this by keeping your property in good shape
and creating an impression that it is lived in for example, keeping
the garden cut down and putting net curtains up at the window are
cheap but effective ways of confusing troublemakers and
trespassers. A property that is looked after and gives the
impression of being lived in is less likely to be attacked and will
not contribute to the decline of the area.
Allerdale Borough Council may be able to help to bring back into
use an empty home. In exceptional cases there may be grant
assistance to help bring important buildings in poor condition up
to standard. In places where there is a high demand for housing, we
may be able to support a housing association to buy the property.
If you want to keep hold of the property, but don't want the
responsibility of being a landlord, we may be able to arrange for a
housing association to let and manage it for you giving you a
regular income as well as helping to provide a home for a family in
need.
Allerdale Borough Council
