A property which has been empty for six months or more is considered to be an empty home. Any empty domestic dwelling will be investigated and acted upon, possibly by teams other than the Empty Homes Team. Initially empty dwellings will be assessed for any nuisance, pest harborage and visual impact on the area. However, dwellings which have been empty for more than two years will be subject to additional enforcement powers where the primary objective is to bring empty dwellings back in to use.
It should be noted that the Empty Homes Team have no powers to bring empty ‘commercial’ units back in to use. Our partnership approach at the heart of the strategy ensures that appropriate agencies are made aware of any empty commercial properties where necessary.
