Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Enforce

While we will do everything we can to assist owners to bring empty homes back into use informally, the Empty Homes Team may use enforcement powers as a last resort. 

Details of how and when we will use our enforcement powers are detailed in our Enforcement Policy (please note, this is currently being updated).

Some of the enforcement options we will consider are:

Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO)

The Council can take over the management of privately owned, long-term empty homes with a view to securing their occupation for up to seven years.  As this is a drastic action, the Council must seek the permission of the Residential Property Tribunal before it uses this option.

Further information about Empty Dwelling Management Orders can be obtained here.

Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO)

This power allows the Council to apply to the Secretary of State for an Order to Compulsory Purchase an empty home.  It is used when all other methods of returning the property back to use have failed.

Further information about Compulsory Purchase can be obtained here.

Enforced sale

This allows the Council to recover debts, which have been secured against a property or a person.  These will mainly be where work in default has been carried out or, for example, there is a Council Tax debt against the property.

Other Enforcement Powers

There are also wide ranging powers available to the Council to ensure necessary works are carried out to an empty home to stop it being dangerous or causing a nuisance.  In particular:

• Where a property is structurally unsafe or dangerous
• Where it is affecting a neighbouring property
• If there are accumulations of waste that are prejudicial to health or attracting vermin
• Where the external appearance is detrimental to the neighbourhood.