Published Wednesday 6 October 2021 at 16:12
The Council have agreed to buy up a long term empty house on Whitehall Street, Darwen, to bring it back into use as much needed residential accommodation. The property is in the Darwen South ward of the borough, has stood empty for over 20 years and is currently an eyesore as it is in serious disrepair.
The owners of the property were unable to fund a full refurbishment and following negotiations with the Empty Properties Team, agreed to sell the property to the Council. This will now enable the necessary works to be carried out to provide good quality housing and remove the blight from the local neighbourhood.
The Council is working towards reducing the number of empty homes throughout the borough, which are a blight on communities.
It is also providing help and assistance to owners who are genuinely making efforts to bring their properties back into use and can provide impartial advice on selling, renting and renovation.
Executive Member for Growth and Development Phil Riley said:
The Empty Properties team concentrates on the properties that have been empty for the longest time. Negotiations often take a very long time but it’s great that a satisfactory outcome has been reached at this particular property.
Empty homes often attract anti-social behaviour including flytipping, theft and arson. The Council’s Empty Properties Team negotiate with owners of long term empty homes to encourage them to bring their houses back into use. In cases where this is not possible, the team may negotiate to buy by agreement but enforcement action may also be taken as a last resort.
There are currently around 1,910 empty and unfurnished properties in the borough with 1014 of those homes only standing empty for a short period of time. Many of these homes are in the process of becoming re-occupied by owners or tenants but some may be empty as they are in the process of being refurbished.
There are 896 properties that are considered to be long term empty homes as they have been unoccupied for longer than 6 months and the team makes contact with all owners to ensure that action is being taken to bring the homes back into use.
Of those 896 long term empty homes, 368 have stood empty for over 2 years and, where the owner is known, there will be intensive negotiations to find a way to bring the properties back into use. In some cases enforcement action will be necessary.
If there is an empty property in your neighbourhood that is causing a nuisance, please contact the Empty Properties Team on Tel: 01254 585213 or by email to emptyproperties@blackburn.gov.uk