News Release
Empty home sells for more than £100,000
A house that has been empty for more than 20
years has been sold at auction as a result of intervention by
Maidstone Borough Council.
The mid-terrace house in Peel Street,
Maidstone, was sold at auction last week for £112,000 after the
owner failed to repay the council for undertaking works at the
property. The council had previously served an improvement notice
on the owner requiring certain works to be carried out which were
not complied with. This led to the council arranging for the works
to be undertaken. As the owner failed to repay our costs following
a demand for payment, the property was sold at auction. Maidstone
council intervened and served the owner with enforcement
action.
Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Cllr Malcolm
Greer, said: “The action taken by the council was deemed the most
appropriate means of bringing the property back into use. We had
tried to work with the owner to improve the property, but we had no
success. The property was in a poor condition and various
complaints had been made from the public. The council’s policy is
to try and bring empty properties back into use. Such properties
could provide families with a home to live.
“We spent more than £4,000 making the property
secure and removing perishable food which had been attracting
vermin. In addition costs will be incurred in arranging for the
owner’s possessions to be placed into storage. Our costs will be
taken out of the final sale price and the owner will then be
entitled to the remainder of the money. The money will be put into
an account and the owner who now resides in London will be
contacted.
“This is the first time Maidstone Borough
Council has forced the sale of an empty property to reclaim costs
and we are extremely pleased with the result. Long-term empty
properties blight our communities and the council will investigate
such matters and try and work with owners to bring them back into
use, only taking extreme measures if all communication fails. The
council has certain powers to bring properties back into use and
where appropriate will take such action.”
Date:
March 5, 2010
Ref:
KS/100304