Council forces landowners to bring empty houses back into use

News Category: Management

Lewisham Council is to force private property owners to bring empty houses back into use if they have been left vacant for more than six months.

Using the Empty Dwellings Management Order (EDMO) that was introduced in 2004, the council can compel owners to bring their properties back into use or face losing control over it.

They could see the council take the property over and rent it out for social housing if they do not take action themselves.

The council has long been concerned about homes standing empty and falling into a state of disrepair, had has so far gained two interim EDMOs.

One is for a Forest Hill property that has been empty for more than ten years, and the other is for a 1930s semi-detached house in Catford that was in desperate need of renovation.

Councillor Susan Wise said: "These new powers mean that in Lewisham we can finally do something about the number of empty homes that are falling into disrepair. If an owner doesn't make good on a property, to make it habitable, then we have the power to bring it back into use.

"Lewisham is exercising its right to ensure that empty homes are made habitable and used, and we will continue to take action. At a time when housing is at a shortage it is vital that we do as much as possible."