Advice and guidance to help your empty home journey

Decent Homes Standard

The Decent Homes Standard was introduced in 2006 and sets out four criteria a ‘decent home’ should meet.

1. It meets the current statutory minimum standard for housing.
2. It is in a reasonable state of repair.
3. It has reasonably modern facilities and services.
4. It provides a reasonable degree of thermal comfort.

We recommend any property works meet the standard as a minimum. This will help long-term sustainability for the property and tenants/owner occupiers.

More information can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Finding an empty property for purchase

There are several routes to finding an empty property including:

• local estate agents
• auction houses - to find out more about auctions in the local area visit the future auctions website
• trying to trace the owner of an empty home

Tradespeople

In partnership with Essex County Council and Thurrock Council, we have the approved Trader scheme.

You can also report rogue/cowboy builders via the Citizens Advice website or via the telephone on 08082231133.