Threatened CPO

leigh0

Hi,


I have a house which my boyfriend owns, but as he lives with me, it isn't in use. I must admit that it has been quite some years that it as been like this and the house is looking quite shabby. Still paying the rates etc, so there aren't any arrears.


Anyhow, I've just received a letter from the local council saying that if I don't show them a plan to refurbish the house within the next 14 days, they will apply for a CPO 'in order to remove this blight and bring the property back into residential use'.


I'm wondering what (apart from the obvious of supplying the plan) I should do - does the council really have the right to compulsorily purchase the house from me (probably at a sharp discount!). Just looking for constructive advice here!


Regards

foxy-stoat

Someone has obviously complained - what is wrong with it, why not sell it or do something useful apart from leaving it empty indefinitely - we do have a housing shortage.

I do not think it is anything you should do, its your other half's so he needs to assess its condition and carry out repairs if required.

pinkshoes

leigh0 wrote: »

Hi,


I have a house which my boyfriend owns, but as he lives with me, it isn't in use. I must admit that it has been quite some years that it as been like this and the house is looking quite shabby. Still paying the rates etc, so there aren't any arrears.


Anyhow, I've just received a letter from the local council saying that if I don't show them a plan to refurbish the house within the next 14 days, they will apply for a CPO 'in order to remove this blight and bring the property back into residential use'.


I'm wondering what (apart from the obvious of supplying the plan) I should do - does the council really have the right to compulsorily purchase the house from me (probably at a sharp discount!). Just looking for constructive advice here!


Regards

Because rather than building new houses, it is their policy to make sure all houses are in use and not abandoned.

Abandoned houses can lead to problems...

So yes, if you are not planning on renting it out nor doing it up, it would be wise to sell it.

davidmcn

A CPO wouldn't be at a "sharp discount", it would be at market value in its current condition.

If you're paying "rates", is the property in N Ireland?

ethank

This has become a big thing for lots of councils. They do not want their area made shabby by having lots of unkempt properties and also if they are empty, they want them brought back into use to house people.

AdrianC

leigh0 wrote: »

I have a house which ... isn't in use. I must admit that it has been quite some years that it as been like this and the house is looking quite shabby.

Anyhow, I've just received a letter from the local council saying that if I don't show them a plan to refurbish the house within the next 14 days, they will apply for a CPO 'in order to remove this blight and bring the property back into residential use'.

I'm wondering what (apart from the obvious of supplying the plan) I should do

Come up with a plan within 14 days, or come up with a defence against the CPO. Or accept that the property is empty and derelict, and agree a price to get a millstone away from your neck.

does the council really have the right to compulsorily purchase the house from me

Yes, absolutely.

You don't say where in the country you are - but every local authority is under pressure to increase housing stock. Why build new when old sits empty? And they certainly do have the powers.

They have to pay market value. Market value for a property in the condition it's in... Derelict. Which, if it's a fairly low-house-price area, may be pretty damn close to zero.

fairy_lights

leigh0 wrote: »

does the council really have the right to compulsorily purchase the house from me

Well, no, because it's not your house. They'll be purchasing it from your boyfriend.
But why hasn't he sold the house if it hasn't been used in years?
You might be paying your council tax on the property but are you adequately heating and ventilating it, and keeping it in a good state of repair? I live next door to an empty house and the damp caused to my own property by the owners letting it fall in to disrepair is an absolute ballache.

parkrunner

leigh0 wrote: »

Hi,


I have a house which my boyfriend owns, but as he lives with me, it isn't in use. I must admit that it has been quite some years that it as been like this and the house is looking quite shabby. Still paying the rates etc, so there aren't any arrears.


Anyhow, I've just received a letter from the local council saying that if I don't show them a plan to refurbish the house within the next 14 days, they will apply for a CPO 'in order to remove this blight and bring the property back into residential use'.


I'm wondering what (apart from the obvious of supplying the plan) I should do - does the council really have the right to compulsorily purchase the house from me (probably at a sharp discount!). Just looking for constructive advice here!


Regards

Clearly not as it isn't your house. Your boyfriend should be dealing with this.

ACG

I have just typed in Council compulsory purchase order empty properties and this was the first link - https://exeter.gov.uk/housing/empty-homes-service/what-is-an-empty-home/compulsory-purchase-orders/

hollydays

Apart from the fact it's really inconsiderate for his neighbours to live next to this tip, there's a fair chance someone might start squatting in it.

daveyjp

Squatting in houses is illegal.

OP all boyfriend has to do is show he is happy to undertake repairs to the property, keep it tidy, do the garden etc.

Once repaired and looked after it can't be CPO'd just because no one lives there.