Empty Neighbouring Property - what to do?

BungalowBel

propertyrental said:

Not sure why an un-lived-in property is a higher fire risk. If anythng it could be lower.

But most councils have a an 'empty property dept/office/registerr' often with powers to repossess or forcibly let to tenants where properties era left empty for excessively long periods.

eg
https://www.hull.gov.uk/housing/housing-regeneration-and-development/empty-properties-private-sector


or re council tax:
https://www.southwark.gov.uk/council-tax/empty-property-review

I have never understood why an owner can't leave their house empty without penalty if they wish (providing of course that it is kept in good repair and garden tidy).

lika_86

Try reporting it to youspotproperty. At the minimum you might get a £20 voucher for it, at best they might buy it and you'll get a share of the price.

Grumpy_chap

user1977 said:

propertyrental said:

Not sure why an un-lived-in property is a higher fire risk.

They are at risk of being broken into by the sort of people who like setting fire to things.

Otherwise, no, I can't see why it would be a fire risk. 

I can see, also, that should an incident occur in a vacant property the chances of it being spotted and controlled swiftly are lower so the risk of the first taking hold and spreading to adjacent properties is more likely.
Obviously, the same could be said for any property when the residents are out at work, shopping, or on annual holiday.  The probability is reduced (simply as a function of time), plus any damaged utility in a normally occupied property will be more likely to be spotted and addressed before it becomes a hazard, and an occupied property might even have a functional alarm system that calls the fire brigade.

CitizenX

BungalowBel said:

propertyrental said:

Not sure why an un-lived-in property is a higher fire risk. If anythng it could be lower.

But most councils have a an 'empty property dept/office/registerr' often with powers to repossess or forcibly let to tenants where properties era left empty for excessively long periods.

eg
https://www.hull.gov.uk/housing/housing-regeneration-and-development/empty-properties-private-sector


or re council tax:
https://www.southwark.gov.uk/council-tax/empty-property-review

I have never understood why an owner can't leave their house empty without penalty if they wish (providing of course that it is kept in good repair and garden tidy).

I agree. I would have no problem if the house and garden were cared for but they are not. 

lincroft1710

BungalowBel said:

propertyrental said:

Not sure why an un-lived-in property is a higher fire risk. If anythng it could be lower.

But most councils have a an 'empty property dept/office/registerr' often with powers to repossess or forcibly let to tenants where properties era left empty for excessively long periods.

eg
https://www.hull.gov.uk/housing/housing-regeneration-and-development/empty-properties-private-sector


or re council tax:
https://www.southwark.gov.uk/council-tax/empty-property-review

I have never understood why an owner can't leave their house empty without penalty if they wish (providing of course that it is kept in good repair and garden tidy).

As I understand it, there is a housing shortage in the UK, so having properties empty does not help

strawb_shortcake

My parents have a house like this in their street. It's been empty 14 years. The owners turn up maybe once a year to trim some hedges back, maybe cut the grass. It's been broken into once and the police got involved, but they've made no greater effort to maintain it.

They should be paying between £510 and £680 a month in council tax It's either 3 or 4 x the annual amount. I can't understand why they think this is the best thing to do with their house.

SadieO

What action do you want to come from this? 

And are you absolutely sure there isn't a housebound person living there? 

Jonboy_1984

annabanana82 said:

My parents have a house like this in their street. It's been empty 14 years. The owners turn up maybe once a year to trim some hedges back, maybe cut the grass. It's been broken into once and the police got involved, but they've made no greater effort to maintain it.

They should be paying between £510 and £680 a month in council tax It's either 3 or 4 x the annual amount. I can't understand why they think this is the best thing to do with their house.

There was one on my parents road, owner had gone into a nursing home and was convinced he was going home one day. He was sane enough to be judged competent to prevent the sale and had enough savings to afford the care bill, so it stayed empty for several years.

CitizenX

SadieO said:

What action do you want to come from this? 

And are you absolutely sure there isn't a housebound person living there? 

Absolutely, 100% sure no one is living there. 

I would like to see the house renovated and lived in. 

Grizebeck

Maybe just mind your own as its nothing to do with you