It is the first time anywhere in the country a local authority has issued a Final Empty Dwelling Management Order to bring a property back into public use.
Housing enforcement officers at the city council were authorised to make an Interim Empty Dwelling Management Order for the three bedroom semi-detached house in Woodston by the Residential Property Tribunal in May 2007.
The tribunal is a national body set up under the Housing Act 2004 to make such rulings and to hear appeals on housing enforcement matters. The application was made to the tribunal after several months of negotiations with the property's owner.
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The property was secured by changing the locks and a schedule of works was drawn-up to bring the house up to a standard where it could be rented. Proposed work, which was sent out to tender, included enlarging the kitchen, installation of new windows and doors, a new kitchen and central heating.
Having received estimates for this work in October 2007, a letter was sent to the owner advising him that the works were about to commence and offering him the opportunity to take up an empty homes grant tied with the property being in the private sector leasing scheme for five years. This would then pay for 50% of the repairs with the remainder being collected from the rental income over the five year period in equal installments, with the remainder going to the owner as an income.
The owner was given 14 days in which to take up this voluntary option and advised if he did not then a Final Empty Dwelling Management Order would be served. The owner did not take up this option and the order was served in January 2008.
The property is now completely refurbished and was made ready for letting via Homes from Houses, who run the city council's private sector letting scheme and advertised through choice based lettings last week. However, the owner has now decided to sell the property and the full costs will be recovered from its sale.
(CD/JM)
