Breakdown of number of empty buildings and relevant actions taken by ECDC
Received 30 April 2026
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.
Responded 1 June 2026
1a)
31.03.2022: 669
31.03.2023: 718
31.03.2024: 840
31.03.2025: 772
31.03.2026: 801
1b)
31.03.2022: 251
31.03.2023: 261
31.03.2024: 297
31.03.2025: 306
31.03.2026: 310
1c)
2021-2022: 0
2022-2023: 0
2023-2024: 133
2024-2025: 114
2025-2026: 214
2. In respect of non-domestic premises, we are unable to provide information on this enquiry, as it is not information that we hold. When a property is taken out of rating by the Valuation Office, we are not made aware of the reason for this in each case.
3.
a) 2021/22 – Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 notice served. 2024/25 – Community Protection Notice served for overgrown garden.
b) 2 (as above)
4.
a) Expenditure incurred by the council in responding to complaints of empty properties not held but costs of undertaking WID is £1207.20
5.
a) Zero