Information RightsTeam
Newham Dockside
1000 Dockside Road
London
E16 2QU
Email:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xx
FOI Reference: 20643933
Date: 7th February 2023
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Subject: Empty Housing – Enforcement Action
We write with regard to your recent enquiry for information held by the Council under the
provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Request and Response
Could you tell me how many empty houses have been reported to LBN in the last 2 years
and the outcomes. For clarity I specifically ask
1 How many properties we reported as empty?
31 empty properties were reported to the Private Sector Housing Service between 1st
January 2020 and 31st January 2023.
2 Did you make contact with all of the owners and follow the process as set out on you web
site?
i.e. If the owner does not do anything to get the property reoccupied, put on the open
market or is unwilling to work with us, we will take legal action. This can include the use of
Compulsory Purchase Orders or making an Empty Dwelling Management Order where the
Council will find a tenant and rent the property to them. Once notified of an empty property our standard practice is to make contact with all
owners or persons in control of empty properties
If not why not?
We received cooperation from owners.
Compulsory Purchase Orders or making an Empty Dwelling Management Orders are
currently not deemed an appropriate course of action.
3 What were the outcomes?
Property was made secure to prevent ASB - 1
Property sold - 1
Property currently being marketed/sold - 2
Property found to be occupied - 3
Owner Deceased - 3
Probate - 2
Tenant Abandonment Investigation - 2
Refurbishment/renovation works commenced - 2
Refurbishment/renovation works planned - 4
Referral to Letting schemes - 2
Ongoing enquires – 4
NFA- 5
4 How many properties were Successfully reoccupied.
Current occupancy is:
12 unoccupied
9 occupied
10 occupation unknown
5 How many of the properties remain unoccupied and why?
Current occupancy is:
12 unoccupied
9 occupied
10 occupation unknown
Property sold
Property currently being marketed/sold
Property found to be occupied
Owner Deceased
Probate
Tenant Abandonment Investigation
Refurbishment/renovation works commenced
Refurbishment/renovation works planned
Please quote the FOI reference number above in any future communications.
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an
internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date
of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be submitted to the contact
details given above.
If you are stil dissatisfied with the Council’s response after the internal review you have a
right of appeal to the Information Commissioner at:
www.ico.org.uk
If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact a member of our team
at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xx
Yours sincerely
Information Rights Team
Newham Council
