Council Empty Property Strategy

An FOI request could probably get you the number of empty properties in certain areas but as for the details on addresses etc I would have thought this would be witheld under data protection laws.

I don't think the owners of properties that were left empty would be too pleased if Council's were giving that info out. Likewise if they did give out this info, groups of squatters would have a field day with it.

A good place to start might be

https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/advice-and-benefits/council-tax-business-rates-and-benefits/council-tax/is-my-property-exempt-from-council-tax

Which says.

With effect from 1 April 2013 the exemption classes for unoccupied unfurnished properties (class C) and properties requiring major repair work to render habitable (class A) have been removed and replaced by discounts. The Government has given local authorities discretion to determine the levels of discount. Further information is included in the discounts section above.

To apply for an exemption, write to the Council Tax Section, Income and Awards, PO Box 224, HerefordHR1 2XW, email us at counciltax@herefordshire.gov.uk or download, complete and return the relevant application form.

It is possible they may assist you without an FOI - but no quarantees.

Good luck,

Brian Q Love
Love Architecture Ltd
Chartered Architects & Project Managers

It seems rather unfair that property details may be passed on for such a reason. Whatever the reason an owner leaves a property unsused , it is their business. Not the council's nor a private person / organisation. Such a process leaves owner's open to harassment (or perhaps just pain in the ****) by anonymous reporting.

Hello Ade

You don't say in what capacity you ask the question, are you a landlord looking to purchase unused properties, a housing association looking to renovate and let properties for a landlord, or a homeless charity wanting to take on the job. In any event I would be very upset if details of an empty property I may own were given out by a council for whatever reason.

It's less likely now that the council will release this information. Mine used to, but now won't.
See here for the latest re-hearing by the Information Tribunal of the key Camden case:

http://www.ehnetwork.org.uk/newsitem/camden-foi-case-door-finally-closing-release-empty-property-lists

The short version of this complicated case is: Camden council chose not to release an empty property list to a squatter campaigner who requested it under the Freedom of Information Act.

This was appealed but the decision upheld by the information Commissioner. It was appealed again and overturned by the Information Tribunal, who ordered the list disclosed.

Camden appealed again and an Upper Tribunal ordered the previous appeal to be re-heard by another Information Tribunal, who last year (2013) finally decided the opposite of the previous Information Tribunal and upheld Camden’s decision not to disclose the empty property list.

The key point is that the reason for the exception from the Freedom of Information request was due to the likely increase in crime; it was a squatter activist requesting the information after all!

Now I've been arguing with my council that the exact opposite is true, that by releasing the list to a carefully selected group of community partners, e.g. members of the council's own Accredited Landlord Scheme, that this is more likely to reduce crime and vandalism, is it will increase the speed at which these properties are brought back into use.

Sadly they're not budging.

Reply to the comment left by "Colin McNulty" at "13/10/2014 - 08:47":

Thank-you for all the comments, I have since had a reply from the council citing the DATA protection act and refusing to supply the info!

Many thanks