Council powers to sell houses in Westmorland and Furness to recoup debts

The council has given itself powers to sell off people’s houses to recover debts.

The new powers will see Westmorland and Furness Council targeting ‘long-term empty and problematic’ residential properties.

At its meeting on July 14, the Liberal Democrat cabinet voted to approve the scheme.

Cabinet member for housing and community safety, Councillor Judith Derbyshire, told the meeting about the proposals.

She said that the policy would give the council an ‘additional tool’ to address the ‘most problematic empty properties’ where owners fail to engage and debts accrue, with ‘wider harm’ being caused to local communities.

Cllr Derbyshire added that it was not intended to be used on a large scale, instead only being used for ‘small numbers’ of the ‘most challenging and persistent cases’.

She gave an example of a ‘long-term empty property’ in Ulverston, which she said had been vacant for over 10 years and had been complained about ‘numerous times’ by residents.

Cllr Derbyshire said: “It has repeatedly been targeted by trespassers, antisocial behaviour, with local teenagers gaining entry to the building.”

She said a boundary wall had also collapsed onto a footpath, with trees ‘encroaching’ onto the highway.

She added: “The council made repeated attempts to contact the owner, tracing their address, although no response was received.”

The council took enforcement action out requiring the owner to address its state, but they took no action, prompting the council to undertake the required works, costing ‘over £7,000’.

It was put as a land charge against the property, but Cllr Derbyshire said the owner ‘still hasn’t’ paid the council the owed sum.

She added: “This case demonstrates exactly why an enforced sales policy is required.

“Public money has already been spent to protect the community and address risks arising from a private property.”

She said this type of case is the kind where the council would consider enforced sale action.

Cllr Derbyshire described it as a ‘last resort power’ to deal with ‘long-term’ empty properties where the owners have ‘refused to engage’.

Councillor Peter Thornton, cabinet member for highways and ICT, voiced his support for the scheme, saying this is for the properties which are ‘neglected’, where neighbours are complaining and ‘something needs to be done’.

The cabinet passed the policy.