addresses of “long term empty” Commercial properties that are within Tower Hamlets Borough Council area

Dear Sir/Madam

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

Thank you for your email.

Your request is being considered and if the information is held you will
receive the information requested within the statutory timescale of 20
working days as defined by the Freedom of Information Act 2000, subject
to the information not being exempt.

If the time taken to meet your request is likely to exceed 18 hours, we
will contact you and ask you amend your request to bring it below this
time limit. We will assist you with suggestions of how this might be
achieved.

I may also contact you if the request needs to be clarified; this is to
ensure that we provide you with the information you require.

Please note that some information you have requested may not be provided
to you; this will only be information that can be withheld by law. In
most cases the reasons will be explained to you along with your copy of
any information that can be released to you.

Yours faithfully,

Jane Jones

Information Governance Administrative Officer

Legal Services

6th Floor

Mulberry Place

London E14 2BG

0207 364 4736

[email address]

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Further to your recent request for details of empty properties in our
Borough we regret to advise that we will not place such details into the
public domain. To this end, this email constitutes a Public Interest
Refusal Notice under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

We are concerned with potential criminal activity that could occur at
unoccupied properties and the disruption to the lives of council residents
as well as the financial cost that such activity incurs.

Therefore whilst holding a list of unoccupied properties for the purposes
of attempting to bring them back into use, we are not prepared to place
this list in the public domain.

We regard the information as exempt under Section 31(1)a of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 which regards information as exempt where it would be
likely to prejudice the prevention of crime. This is a qualified exemption
subject to a public interest test, however we feel it is not in the public
interest to disclose a list which could cause disruption to neighbours or
the Council's statutory duty to find accommodation for those in housing
need.

Similarly we regard the information as exempt under Section 38 (1)b of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 which regards information as exempt where
its disclosure would prejudice the safety of an individual. Criminal
activity in unoccupied properties prevents a safety issue to those
engaging in the activity as well as neighbours. An example would be the
stripping of an individual flat or commercial premises of sanitary ware
which may result in flooding of a neighbouring property. Again this is a
qualified exemption subject to a public interest test, however we feel it
is not in the public interest to put into the public domain a list of
properties where safety concerns could result as a result of criminal
activity.

With regards to your request for names of the limited companies against
various properties on your spreadsheet, I have referred to matter to our
Business Rates team and will write further on this matter.

Thanks,

Tim Rodgers
Information Governance Manager

Legal Services
Chief Executives Department
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Phone: 0207 364 4354
[mobile number]
Fax: 0207 364 4804
E-mail: [1][email address]
Website: http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk
6th Floor, Town Hall, 5 Mulberry Place,

London E14 2BG

You have the right to complain to the Council about this decision. If you
wish to do this please write to:

Corporate Complaints Unit

Tower Hamlets Town Hall

Mulberry Place

5 Clove Crescent

London E14 2BG

If you are subsequently not satisfied with the Council's response to your
complaint you have a right of appeal to the independent Information
Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625 545 700

[2]www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Further information about the operation of the Act is available from the
Council's website [3]www.towerhamlets.gov.uk and the information leaflet
in public reception areas in Council buildings.

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References

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1. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/
http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/
3. http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/
http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/
4. http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/
5. mailto:[Tower Hamlets Borough Council request email]