FI16964

Request

1. Long‑term empty residential properties

Please provide, for each of the past five financial years (or the maximum period available if shorter):

a) The total number of residential properties recorded as empty for more than 12 months

b) The number of those properties recorded as empty for more than five years

c) The number of properties subject to any long‑term empty council tax premium 

If held, please provide figures as annual snapshots. 

2. Properties recorded as uninhabitable/derelict

Please provide:

a) The number of properties that have been removed from the council tax or business rates list on the basis that they are uninhabitable, incapable of beneficial occupation, or derelict, for each of the past five financial years

b) If available, a breakdown by:

• Residential
• Commercial / non‑domestic 

3. Enforcement and safety action

For each of the past five financial years, please provide:

a) The number of Dangerous Structure notices, Environmental Protection Act notices, or similar enforcement actions issued in relation to empty, derelict, or unsafe buildings

b) The number of cases where the council has undertaken works in default on empty or derelict buildings 

4. Council expenditure

Please provide, for each of the past five financial years:

a) The total expenditure incurred by the council responding to or managing derelict or long‑term empty buildings, including (where identifiable):

• Emergency safety works
• Securing or fencing buildings
• Legal and enforcement costs 

If an exact figure is not recorded, please provide the best estimate available or indicate that the information is not held. 

5. Compulsory purchase and acquisition

Please state:

a) The number of occasions in the past five financial years where the council has:

• Considered
• Initiated
• Completed

a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) or equivalent acquisition relating to empty, derelict, or long‑term unused buildings. 

6. Definitions and caveats

If the council uses a local definition or classification for terms such as “derelict”, “uninhabitable” or “long‑term empty”, please provide a brief explanation or reference to relevant policy documents.

Response

1. Long-term empty residential properties

(a) As follows:

2021/22	Information not held
2022/23	Information not held
2023/24	Information not held
2024/25	401
2025/26	402

(b) As follows:

2021/22	45
2022/23	38
2023/24	41
2024/25	53
2025/26	50

(c) As follows:

2021/22	182
2022/23	143
2023/24	175
2024/25	401
2025/26	402

2. Properties recorded as uninhabitable/derelict 

	Residential	Commercial
2021/22	51	9
2022/23	45	2
2023/24	52	11
2024/25	39	6
2025/26	15	1

3. Enforcement and safety action 

	Section 77/77 Notices	Emergency Works Carried Out
2021/22	6	4
2022/23	11	8
2023/24	15	2
2024/25	16	2
2025/26	18	1

 4. Council expenditure 

• Emergency safety works – approximately £15,000.00
• Securing or fencing buildings – approximately £15,000.00
• Legal and enforcement costs – not known/recorded

5. Compulsory purchase and acquisition 

Zero.