Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has, for the first time, used its legal powers to recoup the tens of thousands of pounds it has spent dealing with a number of empty and derelict properties.
The Law of the Property Act 1925 allows the Council to forcibly sell property and land that it has been forced to take remedial action on, in order to cover its costs.
While the act has been in force for over 80 years, this is the first time Rhondda Cynon Taf has used its powers in order to claw back the cash it has spent on buildings that owners have allowed to fall to rack and ruin.
As well as being a public health and protection risk to the wider community, such derelict buildings and pockets of land also have a detrimental impact on how a community feels about crime and disorder and affects regeneration and further investment.
Cllr Clayton Willis, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Housing, said: “This is yet further proof of the commitment from the Council to deal with the issues that residents have told us cause them concern.
“Empty, eyesore and derelict buildings are not what people want to see in the heart of their neighbourhood. They can be seen as magnets for crime and disorder and, above all, can leave an area and its residents feeling uncared for.
“The Council and its partners have an extensive and innovative strategy in place to ensure derelict buildings are dealt with and the use of legal powers such as this are just one means we are using to deal with this issue and regenerate our communities.”
Four properties and a plot of land were in the first tranche of lots to be sold by the Council – even though they are privately owned – after all attempts to engage with their owners to pay for the cost of repairs and bring them up to standard, failed.
The lots were:
15 Bute Street in Aberdare, which has been empty and dilapidated for years and is considered to be detrimental to the surrounding community, especially as work continues to ensure Aberdare is a pleasant, modern and safe place to live, work and socialise. In 1997, the Council served legal notices on the owners to ensure the building was externally renovated. This did not happen so the Council carried out the works, costing £13,500 plus administration costs, to ensure the surrounding community did not have to tolerate the eyesore. The property, which was not registered with the Land Registry has been sold for £20,1000 and the cost of registering the property and selling it, plus the work carried out, will be covered by this.
17 Burns Street in Cwmaman was damaged by fire in Spring 2002. The lack of a roof was caused water damage to adjoining properties and a legal notice was served to ensure the work took place. The notice was not adhered to and the Council carried out the works in default at a cost of £17,259. The property remained empty following this work and dry rot infestation set in which, again, was having a detrimental impact on neighbouring buildings, so a legal notice was served for work to be carried out. The notice was ignored and the Council was forced to carry out a further £3423 of work to deal with the dry rot. The property sold for £28,000.
110 John Street in Abercwmboi was considered to be structurally unstable, in poor condition, unfit for human habitation and a blot on the local landscape. In 1998, the Councils secure a demolition order and demolished the property and cleared the site, at a cost of nearly £9,000.
The neighbouring property at 111 John Street had also stood empty for years and was a derelict eyesore which, again, was demolished in 1999 at a cost of over £12,000. The vacant plot of land created by the demolition of 110 and 111 was sold for a total of £15,000.
30 Llewellyn Street is in the middle of a terrace of homes and has stood empty for years. Six years ago, it was discovered to have dry rot and extensive enquiries to establish its owners and serve legal notices were undertaken, but were unsuccessful. The Council was forced to carry out the work to protect others living in the terrace, at a cost of £5,770. The property continued to deteriorate and further notices were issued to secure weather-proofing of it. Again, this eventually led to the Council carrying out the work at a cost of £1,500. The property sold for £15,000.
For more information, advice or support on empty properties, visit www.rctcbc.gov.uk or ring 01445 425777
