Eco & Environment, Political | Posted on March 11th, 2024 | return to news
Dorset Council targets empty homes
Dorset Council has started legal action to take over the ownership of four long term empty homes across the county.
If you own a property that remains empty, you need to be aware that Dorset Council has it in their sights.
The authority has started legal action to take over the ownership of four long term empty homes across the county. The process called a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) represents the option of last resort for the authority, as it battles to tackle the blight of abandoned homes.
The council says the compulsory purchase process is not undertaken lightly and normally comes at the end of a long period of negotiation with the property owner, to try to get the house back into use by any means possible. Where this is unsuccessful, the council can decide to apply for a CPO. This involves asking central government for permission to grant the order. If the order is given, the council may decide to immediately sell the property or renovate and use it for a possible range of council uses, including temporary accommodation, or providing a home for care leavers.
Cllr Jane Somper, Cabinet portfolio lead for Adult Social Care, Health and Housing said: “Getting abandoned properties back into use is an important part of our new housing policy and corporate plan, turning a wasted asset into an essential home.
“Although legal action had begun in these cases, in the first instance the Housing Standards Team always provide a variety of advice and assistance to get empty homes back into use.
“Some investigations can take years of painstaking work. This action shows that Dorset Council will use all the legal options available to tackle the empty home problem, to meet the high housing demand that we have in Dorset.”
Current Council Tax data shows that just over 330 homes have been empty for two years or more. The Housing Standards Team currently has a target list of over 60 empty houses they are currently investigating and acting on. If you know about a house that you think is empty, you can report it on the council’s website at https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/empty-homes
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