Council to force sale of empty houses but not second homes

A Welsh council has confirmed that second homes will not be affected by its empty homes plan.

Pembrokeshire Council has approved its Empty Properties Strategic Plan for 2025–30, which could allow the authority to force the sale of long-term empty properties.

During the council meeting, councillors reassured members that the power would be used only as a last resort.

Empty properties are a waste of a valuable resource

In a council report, the council says empty properties are a “waste of a valuable resource” and can become targets of anti-social behaviour in the community.

The report said: “Long-term, often problematic empty properties are considered a waste of a valuable resource which could be added to the pool of much-needed housing in the County.

“They can also frequently become blights to neighbourhoods by becoming targets for antisocial behaviour, trespass, vandalism and arson.

“In addition to this they can become eyesores which devalue nearby properties, become sources of harbourage for vermin infestations, and can also become significant drains on the resources of the County Council, Police, and Fire & Rescue Service.”

Second homes will not form part of the plan

The council said it wants to work with owners of empty properties to bring them back into use and would only use forced sale powers where certain criteria are met.

A Pembrokeshire County Council spokesperson confirmed to Property118 that second homes will not form part of the plan.

The spokesman said: “The aim of the Empty Properties Strategic Plan for Pembrokeshire is to ‘work with the owners of empty properties to encourage them to bring their properties back in to use, and to provide information and advice on the assistance schemes available to owners of long-term empty residential properties.’

“A long-term empty property in the context of the Empty Properties Strategic Plan means a private property which has been empty for more than 12 months where there would be no usual residents, has no indication of being used as a second home and is not inhabited by short-term residents.

“This plan therefore, does not apply to second homes as they would fall within a different categorisation for council tax.”

Power will be used only in rare circumstances

Cllr Jacob Williams confirmed in a council meeting that cases would be treated on a case-by-case basis and added only a handful of properties would be affected.

A council spokesperson adds: “The objectives within the Plan include the range of interventions available to the Authority to work with owners of empty properties from advice, guidance and support through to more formal enforcement if the property is causing a nuisance or is detrimental to the area.

“There are strict criteria applied for the utilisation of any legal powers. It is only in exceptional and rare circumstances where every effort has been made to engage with or trace property owners where a debt has been accrued due to works having to be undertaken on the property to minimise its nuisance or detriment to the area that the authority would consider enacting an enforced sale.”

The council voted in favour of adopting the Empty Property Strategic Plan, which will become operational once the call-in period has passed.