Empty private properties
Doing the work to bring a home up to standard
A homeowner must, by law, keep their property up to a minimum standard; it must be safe and free from the causes of infestation by rats and other pests.
If a property, or land, doesn't meet these minimum standards we send the owner a legal notice that instructs them to put things right within a certain time.
Work in default
If they don't respond, or refuse to act, we can do the work ourselves and give the owner the bill. We call it 'work in default'. If they refuse to pay, we can put a special 'charge' on the property. This is a debt that stays with the property rather than the owner. The owner would find it hard to sell the home because a buyer would become responsible for the charge.
If the owner doesn't pay this debt we can take action to force the sale of the property.
Contents of Empty private properties
- About empty homes
- Report an empty private home
- Doing the work to bring a home up to standard (this page)
- Other powers to tackle empty homes
- The enforced sales procedure guide
