Empty fire-damaged Willenhall house to be seized by council
An empty fire-damaged house is to be seized by council bosses with a view to re-letting it on the open market.
Repeated attempts to contact the owner of the privately owned property in Bridge Street, Willenhall, have proved unsuccessful.
Wolverhampton City Council housing bosses are now looking to acquire the semi-detached home by agreement or compulsory purchase order (CPO), following reports that it is attracting high levels of anti-social behaviour – including repeated break-in attempts and the vandalism of two motor vehicles within the property boundary.
The fire is believed to have broken out on September 10 last year. Notices were served to secure the house, but due to the owner failing to make contact, these works have been carried out in default by the council.
A further notice to abate the nuisance of running water within the property was again not responded to, and the necessary work was subsequently carried out by Severn Trent Water. The gas supply was also capped off and made safe by Cadent following the fire.
A report to the council’s cabinet resources committee said: “This decision is in support of the council’s Empty Properties Strategy, which aims to bring long-term empty homes back into use. Bringing an empty property back into use will improve the health and wellbeing of the new occupants by providing safe and secure housing.
“Enabling occupation and removing the detrimental effect of the property will reduce the anxiety associated with crime and the fear of crime that living adjacent to an empty property can cause. The reoccupation of empty properties brings in additional income to the council via the New Homes Bonus paid to local authorities as a result of increased housing supply.
“As there has been no progress or contact from the owner, it is considered prudent to begin the process of acquisition at an early stage. It will be possible to pause or withdraw from the CPO should the owner come forward and make reasonable progress to rectify the situation.
“In the event of an acquisition, the costs will be met from the approved capital budget for 2023-24 of £241,000 for the Empty Property Strategy. The subsequent sale of the property would result in a capital receipt ring-fenced to finance future purchases through the strategy,” added the statement.
The cabinet resources committee will discuss the matter next Wednesday.
