Last week Stratford-on-Avon District Council was awarded the first Interim Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO) in Warwickshire.
The EDMO means that a problematic, long-term empty property in Stratford will be brought back into use, under the management of the District Council.
The property, which is in a poor state of disrepair, has been the subject of complaints from unhappy neighbours for a number or years. Locals felt that it was becoming an eyesore and having a detrimental impact on their own properties.
The First-tier Tribunal headed by Regional Judge D. Jackson made the judgement, which gives Stratford District Council the power to take over the management of the property for a period of up to seven years.
Extensive work was undertaken to try and engage the owners and protracted negotiations involved offering them a range of options to bring the property back into use. Due to the reluctance of the owner to accept help from the District Council to address the issues at the property, a lengthy, legal process followed, which has resulted in this rarely awarded power.
Sheree Johansen, Empty Property Officer at the District Council, who has worked on this case for some years, commented: "Whilst it still remains the District Council's preferred option to work with owners to bring their empty properties back into use. Owners must now be aware that if they continue to leave their properties empty and fail to engage with the District Council, their properties may also be at risk of similar enforcement action being taken against them."
Cllr Peter Richards Housing and Infrastructure Portfolio said: "We are extremely happy with this first step. As a District Council we are keen to rid the streets of the blight of empty properties, particularly when there is so much demand for housing, particularly affordable housing. I am delighted that this empty property will not only be bought back into use but will be used to house deserving local people."
