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Original poster

Empty property - did you know....

69 replies

Pixiefish · 01/07/2006 22:59

I don't know if this applied to other parts of the UK but if you live in Wales the council can force you to make an empty property habitable or they can take it off you. Absolutely flabbergasted- have had a letter off the council today regarding an empty flat that we have- it's not causing a nuiscance to anyone and is behind another property that we own.

I really can't believe it> Surely its up to us if we want to keep a property empty. Apparently not- its new govt legislation. We've had the letter today- unless we rent the flat out or use it or sell it then the council haev the right to take possession and do what they want with it...

Am totally astounded.

OP posts:

Rowlers · 01/07/2006 23:01

I'm quite shocked at that
My mum still can't bring herself to sell my nain's cottage even though she's been dead for 6 years.
We use it for holidays regularly but maybe that won't be enough?
It doesn't sound legal to me

Original poster

Pixiefish · 01/07/2006 23:40

it is enough if you occupy it for holidays even if its only one week a year

OP posts:

misdee · 01/07/2006 23:41

peter told me about this, apparently it will be uk wide.

Original poster

Pixiefish · 01/07/2006 23:41

It is legal- It's a policy passed by the Labour government in the Houses of Parliament

OP posts:

rickman · 01/07/2006 23:43

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Pixiefish · 01/07/2006 23:44

I ams o cross about it. We're tqaking our time to renovate the flat as and when we have the money. It litereally does NOT affect anyone else as its behind the house that we rent out. Surely what we do with our own property should have nothing to do with anyone else!!!!! so long as we pay council tax (which in Wales you have to pay 50% council tax on unoccupied property ( In England its ZERO) I really can't see whose business it is that our property is empty. BIG BROTHER- never mind being on the telly- he's bloody everywhere

OP posts:

Original poster

Pixiefish · 01/07/2006 23:45

Surely its up to us why we have it empty? We used to rent it out and had so much hassle off council tenants that we decided to do it up and rent it our privately (local council still owe us over £500 back rent from 3 years ago)

OP posts:

Skribble · 01/07/2006 23:49

If it is to do with homelessnes then surely the priority should be for the council to keep their properties in good nick and always have a tenent in their own ones. There are areas full of empty boarded up council houses.

Original poster

Pixiefish · 01/07/2006 23:51

Exactly Skribble. They give some reasons, one being homelessness but tbh there are absolutely loads of empty council properties in this vicinity. The letter is a standard letter and is demanding we tell them our intentions for the property- still fuming

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serenity · 01/07/2006 23:52

I understand that out of the SE it's probably not such a problem, but there is a housing shortage. Looking at it from that POV, empty unused houses are a waste. Surely it's better to use them than have to keep concreting over more and more land for new builds?

Freckle · 01/07/2006 23:52

I'm not sure it's zero council tax in England. I had a house which I was trying desperately to sell, but working elsewhere. I still had to pay council tax on the empty property as well as pay council tax where I was working.

rickman · 01/07/2006 23:55

Message withdrawn

Skribble · 01/07/2006 23:55

Just reply saying that you are renovating it and will probably take years and years to get it up to standard and unless they are providing a grant bugger off.

Pruni · 01/07/2006 23:57

Message withdrawn

SecurMummy · 01/07/2006 23:58

Have you spoken to a Sol. about it? I should imagine, if it is a standard letter, that explaining that you are undertaking an ongoing programme of updating and renovationg the property and that you endevouring to do tis with available surplus cash rather than accept loans or other debt on the property then they would accept this is reasonable - especially if you approacj it very proffesionally with costings and a time plan etc.

I know this seems to be bending over backwards to get what you should rightfully have in any case (the rigth to do as you wish with your property) however if it gets them off your back then it could be worth it!

Alternativly - how habitable is it? I am sure someone could be persauded to take a holiday in it for one week a year?

serenity · 02/07/2006 00:00

With the empty council properties, I'd imagine it's similar to the situation our council is in, which is lack of money. They might have sent you the letter, but it's because of a Central Gvt decision not one of their own, so irrelevant (but very frustrating) that they aren't getting their own house into order ('scuse pun) first.

Original poster

Pixiefish · 02/07/2006 00:06

We're renovating the property and its not habitable at the moment.

I merely made the point about being passed by labour in London incase anyone thought it had been passed by the assembly- not a political statement at all.

I'm merely making the point. Of course we can get out of it but we're being honest and saying that no one uses it. It's a one bedroom flat and surely it should be up to us what we do with it. That's the point I'm trying to make. It belongs to us.

It's up to us whether its empty or not surely.

OP posts:

Skribble · 02/07/2006 00:07

Totaly agree!

Skribble · 02/07/2006 00:08

Tell them its an art instalation, then you will def get a grant .

rickman · 02/07/2006 00:09

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Pixiefish · 02/07/2006 00:17

Not really Rickman. The property isn't suitable for human habitation at the moment and the people that have had it in the past have treated us adn the property really badly (hence why its not habitable at the moment- last tenant wrecked it)

We definetly WON'T be renting to anyone other than a private tenant based on our past experiences of council tenants (owed over £1000 by 2 tenants (not each)) property wrecked and the costs to put right have been massive

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serenity · 02/07/2006 00:19

But the point isn't to harass people like you who are doing it up or whatever. It's to find the properties that are just sitting there, empty for no reason other than it belongs to someone who can't be bothered to do anything with it or belongs to a landlord or company that's 'forgotten' it or has it empty for tax purposes.

Apparently there are 689,675 empty houses in the UK, 3.2% of the total housing stock. That could take an awful lot of pressure off of the housing shortage if even if half the people getting letters like yours then made plans to rent them out or sell them.

Original poster

Pixiefish · 02/07/2006 00:22

but what i'm trying to say is that surely its up to the property owner what they do with their property.

If I had 2 cars and kept one in the garage and never used it the way things are going this govt will soon be telling me what to do with it.

OP posts:

serenity · 02/07/2006 00:36

Cars atm are a pretty much limitless resource, plus you can do without them.

Housing on the other hand is an essential item, and in this country is definitely not limitless. We're an island, we can't keep building willy nilly, and we are in the middle of a housing crisis. In that climate surely the social need for housing overtakes the individuals need to own unused properties?

rickman · 02/07/2006 00:39

Message withdrawn

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