Empty homes

There are around 350 homes in Tamworth which have been empty for six months or longer. We are committed to working with owners to bring these homes back into use as housing.

Empty homes can have a negative impact on local communities, as well as reducing the availability of desperately needed housing. Owners of empty properties may also be liable for a larger council tax bill.

There are many benefits of returning homes back into use - for the owner, the community and the local economy.

Our private sector housing team works with owners of empty homes to help bring them back into use. This can include advice and assistance and, in some cases, financial support.

For more information, please get in touch with us at Empty-Homes@tamworth.gov.uk

Find out more information on VAT.

Enforcement action

If a home remains empty for a long time, or we receive complaints about a property, we do have various enforcement powers available to help bring it back into use and resolve the issue.

Enforcement action will usually involve one or more of the following:

  • Action under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
  • Town and Country Planning Act Section 215 notice - to undertake steps to improve the appearance of the property or its land
  • Building Act 1984 Section 79 Notice – to order the owner to carry out repair or restoration work or demolish the building
  • Enforced sale – where debt is owed to the council for council tax, or for works charged against the property and where all reasonable attempts to recover the debt have been made
  • Empty Dwelling Management Order – allowing the council to take over the management of the property under part 4 of the Housing Act 2004
  • Compulsory Purchase Order – allowing the council to purchase the property so it can then be sold with conditions for it to be brought back into use

There are other powers available in addition, but we will always try to work with the owner before any enforcement action is considered.

Report an empty property

If you know of an empty property, particularly one that has been empty for a long time, or is causing a nuisance or having a detrimental impact on a neighbourhood, please contact us, or use our report it online form.