FOI003009 FOI Council Tax/Property Services

FOI request details: Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide the following information relating to derelict, uninhabitable or long term empty buildings in your council area.

1. Long term empty residential properties
Please provide, for each of the past five financial years (or the maximum period available if shorter):
a) The total number of residential properties recorded as empty for more than 12 months
b) The number of those properties recorded as empty for more than five years
c) The number of properties subject to any long term empty council tax premium

If held, please provide figures as annual snapshots.

2. Properties recorded as uninhabitable/derelict
Please provide:
a) The number of properties that have been removed from the council tax or business rates list on the basis that they are uninhabitable, incapable of beneficial occupation, or derelict, for each of the past five financial years
b) If available, a breakdown by:
- Residential
- Commercial / non domestic

3. Enforcement and safety action
For each of the past five financial years, please provide:
a) The number of Dangerous Structure notices, Environmental Protection Act notices, or similar enforcement actions issued in relation to empty, derelict, or unsafe buildings
b) The number of cases where the council has undertaken works in default on empty or derelict buildings

4. Council expenditure
Please provide, for each of the past five financial years:
a) The total expenditure incurred by the council responding to or managing derelict or long term empty buildings, including (where identifiable):
- Emergency safety works
- Securing or fencing buildings
- Legal and enforcement costs

If an exact figure is not recorded, please provide the best estimate available or indicate that the information is not held.

5. Compulsory purchase and acquisition
Please state:
a) The number of occasions in the past five financial years where the council has:
- Considered
- Initiated
- Completed
a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) or equivalent acquisition relating to empty, derelict, or long term unused buildings.

6. Definitions and caveats
If the council uses a local definition or classification for terms such as “derelict”, “uninhabitable” or “long term empty”, please provide a brief explanation or reference to relevant policy documents.

If any part of this request exceeds the cost limit, I would be grateful if you could advise which elements could be refined or narrowed to bring it within scope, rather than refusing the request in full.