Council crackdown on derelict homes includes targeting landlords

Council crackdown on derelict homes includes targeting landlords

0:03 AM, 10th September 2024, About 3 weeks ago 5

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Landlords are at the forefront of one council’s bid to ramp up pressure on the owners of more than 2,000 empty and derelict homes in the town, the Northern Echo reveals.

The council will use more enforcement powers to target the worst offenders – along with ‘nudging’ landlords to improve their properties.

Plus, the council has and will continue to force sales in some cases.

Middlesbrough council is aiming to recover £5.5 million in unpaid council tax while collaborating with housing associations to purchase and refurbish other vacant properties.

Problem of empty homes has worsened

According to regeneration director Richard Horniman, the problem of empty homes has worsened in recent years, with some properties becoming dangerous, insecure and plagued by anti-social behaviour.

He told a council meeting that there are 2,231 empty properties in Middlesbrough, with 1,233 of those vacant for more than six months.

These properties have an outstanding council tax bill of £5.5 million.

Mr Horniman explained that collecting this council tax debt has proven challenging due to absent landlords and various tactics used to avoid payment.

Reminding landlords of their responsibilities

To address this issue, the council has launched a ‘combined push’ to tackle empty properties, which includes reminding landlords of their responsibilities, pursuing compulsory purchases and taking legal action.

The council is also using environmental health issues to force the sale of some properties.

By focusing on the worst offenders, the council hopes to make a significant impact on the problem of empty and derelict homes in Middlesbrough and returning them to use.


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Reluctant Landlord

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13:04 PM, 10th September 2024, About 3 weeks ago

and the unused council offices and buildings? The empty Council properties left empty as deemed 'uneconomic' to make good and let at social rent levels?

JB

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13:21 PM, 10th September 2024, About 3 weeks ago

My council has just written to tell me my empty rental property is a second home and they'll be charging 200% council tax next year

Reluctant Landlord

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14:28 PM, 10th September 2024, About 3 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by JB at 10/09/2024 - 13:21
let to a 'ghost' tenant at £250 a year fixed rent. This falls below the legal requirement where an AST is required and so you can continue to pay the CT as it is (with a single person discount applied). The property is then 'occupied' and the 200% rate cannot be applied.

look up tenancy types....

https://www.gov.uk/private-renting-tenancy-agreements/tenancy-types

Karl

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14:47 PM, 10th September 2024, About 3 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 10/09/2024 - 14:28
That sounds fraudulent

Unloved Landlord

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16:09 PM, 10th September 2024, About 3 weeks ago

All because of the complete failure of consecutive governments not controlling legal and illegal immigration.
Blame anything or anyone except the true root cause.

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