Request for information about existing vacant properties

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Bromley Borough Council should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Dear Bromley Borough Council,
I am looking for data on Vacant\Empty properties in the area. Are you able to provide details (addresses) or owners details?
We are also looking for details on out of town landlords (Can I
request the correspondence address for the landlord if you have
these?)
We buy houses and bring them back to life enabling more properties
back into the rental sector.
We want to offer the vendors a solution to this and offer our
services. I understand that many councils hold this sort of data?
I would like to understand if the local authority has an Empty
Property Strategy, the extent of empty property in the area,
how the local authority plans to deal with it and the names and
contact details of officers within the council who are responsible
for it.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Colin Ibe

BromleyCorporateCustomerServices,

Thank you for your email, please be aware that any future FOI requests can
be requested on line via the following link:
www.bromley.gov.uk/FreedomofInformation

 

 

From: Colin Ibe [mailto:[FOI #518566 email]]
Sent: 07 September 2018 20:57
To: FOI requests at Bromley Borough Council
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Request for information about
existing vacant properties

 

Dear Bromley Borough Council,
I am looking for data on Vacant\Empty properties in the area. Are you able
to provide details (addresses) or owners details?
We are also looking for details on out of town landlords (Can I
request the correspondence address for the landlord if you have
these?)
We buy houses and bring them back to life enabling more properties
back into the rental sector.
We want to offer the vendors a solution to this and offer our
services. I understand that many councils hold this sort of data?
I would like to understand if the local authority has an Empty
Property Strategy, the extent of empty property in the area,
how the local authority plans to deal with it and the names and
contact details of officers within the council who are responsible
for it.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Colin Ibe

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #518566 email]

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show quoted sections

BromleyCorporateCustomerServices,

Thank you for your email – your request will be passed to a departmental
coordinator to provide a reply.

By law, the council may take up to 20 working days to provide you with
non-personal information held by the authority.  In some cases, a charge
may apply.  If so, we will contact you to let you know the cost and then
you can decide whether to go ahead with the request or not.  Where charges
apply, the time scales indicated do not take effect until we have received
payment. 

In future, so that your request can be sent direct to the correct
department, please use the following link to submit your request on line –
[1]www.bromley.gov.uk/freedomofinformation

 

 

Kind regards

Katy 

Customer Service Advisor 

Customer Services Centre 

Tel: 0208 464 3333

Web: [2]www.bromley.gov.uk

Please be aware issues can also be reported online using the following
link [3]http://www.bromley.gov.uk/report

Help us to improve our service:  [4]www.bromley.gov.uk/HowDidWeDo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From: Colin Ibe [mailto:[FOI #518566 email]]
Sent: 07 September 2018 20:57
To: FOI requests at Bromley Borough Council
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Request for information about
existing vacant properties

 

Dear Bromley Borough Council,
I am looking for data on Vacant\Empty properties in the area. Are you able
to provide details (addresses) or owners details?
We are also looking for details on out of town landlords (Can I
request the correspondence address for the landlord if you have
these?)
We buy houses and bring them back to life enabling more properties
back into the rental sector.
We want to offer the vendors a solution to this and offer our
services. I understand that many councils hold this sort of data?
I would like to understand if the local authority has an Empty
Property Strategy, the extent of empty property in the area,
how the local authority plans to deal with it and the names and
contact details of officers within the council who are responsible
for it.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Colin Ibe

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #518566 email]

Is [Bromley Borough Council request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Bromley Borough Council? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[5]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/change_re...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[6]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
[7]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections

Pettifer, Marion, Bromley Borough Council

Dear Mr Ibe

 

Thank you for your email requesting information regarding empty properties
within the borough.

 

Unfortunately we are unable to provide the information requested as the
release of information about empty properties has been the subject of
appeals and consideration by the Information Commissioner and as a result
it is not provided by this Borough.  For completeness, the formal Council
position is set out below:

 

‘The Council has received advice from the Information Commissioner that
there should be a presumption against providing details of addresses of
empty properties within the Borough. This reflects the fact that not only
could the disclosure of such addresses undermine the privacy of
individuals pursuant to the Data Protection Act 1998 and the General Data
Protection Regulation 2018 but also potentially result in disturbance to
neighbourhoods and individuals as a result of criminal activity associated
with the occupancy of such properties.

 

The Council has evidence of such incidents occurring locally, and in
reviewing whether to exercise the exemption from such disclosure pursuant
to section 31 and 40 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 it has had
regard both to the benefit of providing such information to you (and hence
the public generally) against the benefit of withholding it ("the public
interest test").

 

On balance given the importance which it attaches to the prevention and
detection of crime and the improvement of local neighbourhoods as part of
its Building a Better Bromley strategy, it considers that in the present
case the balance should be struck in preserving individuals' safety and
quality of life’.

 

Therefore with the above in mind, we are unable to provide any details or
lists of empty properties within the borough or details of private owners.

 

However if there are any particular properties that may be of interest to
you, by all means advise of the address and we may be able to put you in
contact with the owner if the property is known to us. Be advised that
should they wish to have no contact with you then there is nothing we can
do to make them.

 

In relation to strategy, the Council are keen to work with the owners of
long term empty property to assist them in bringing them back into use. 
Where despite attempts a property remains empty and gives rise to serious
nuisance, then the Council will use its enforcement powers to protect the
public and nearby residents.

 

The Council employ an Empty Property Officer to assist with this work and
he can be contacted direct via email at  [email address]

 

Kind regards.

 

Marion

 

FOI Coordinator

Environment and Community Services

London Borough of Bromley

[1]www.bromley.gov.uk

 

 

From: Colin Ibe [mailto:[FOI #518566 email]]
Sent: 07 September 2018 20:57
To: FOI requests at Bromley Borough Council
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Request for information about
existing vacant properties

 

Dear Bromley Borough Council,
I am looking for data on Vacant\Empty properties in the area. Are you able
to provide details (addresses) or owners details?
We are also looking for details on out of town landlords (Can I
request the correspondence address for the landlord if you have
these?)
We buy houses and bring them back to life enabling more properties
back into the rental sector.
We want to offer the vendors a solution to this and offer our
services. I understand that many councils hold this sort of data?
I would like to understand if the local authority has an Empty
Property Strategy, the extent of empty property in the area,
how the local authority plans to deal with it and the names and
contact details of officers within the council who are responsible
for it.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Colin Ibe

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #518566 email]

Is [Bromley Borough Council request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Bromley Borough Council? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[2]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/change_re...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[3]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
[4]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections