Empty properties, whether residential or commercial, are a common sight in most areas across the UK. While they might not seem like a pressing concern, unreported empty properties can lead to a multitude of problems for communities and municipalities. Here’s why it’s important to report an empty property and the benefits that come with doing so.
1. Preventing Urban Decay
Empty properties can quickly fall into disrepair. Without regular maintenance, they can become eyesores, bringing down the overall appearance of a neighbourhood. Reporting these properties ensures that specialists can take action to maintain or improve them, preventing urban decay and preserving the aesthetic appeal of communities.
2. Enhancing Community Safety
Vacant properties can attract criminal activity, including vandalism, squatting, and illegal dumping. These activities can create safety hazards for residents and contribute to a sense of insecurity in the neighbourhood. By reporting empty properties, you enable law enforcement and local governments to monitor and secure these areas, enhancing community safety.
3. Maintaining Property Values
The presence of empty, unkempt properties can negatively impact the value of nearby homes and businesses. Potential buyers or investors might be deterred by the sight of neglected properties, leading to decreased property values. When you report an empty property, you ensure that steps are taken to address these issues, helping to maintain or even increase property values in the neighbourhood.
4. Environmental Benefits
Empty properties that are not maintained can become overgrown with weeds and other vegetation, which can become a fire hazard and a breeding ground for pests. Reporting empty properties allows for proper maintenance, reducing these environmental risks and promoting a healthier living environment. Blanchards have seen countless cases of vermin and pest infestations on houses that are left empty for too long. Furthermore, environmental impacts like vegetation growing through the property causing untold damage is also prevalent
5. Supporting Housing Supply
In many regions, there is a significant demand for housing. Empty residential properties represent a missed opportunity to provide homes for individuals and families. When you report an empty property it can prompt local governments to incentivise property owners to sell or rent them, thereby increasing the available housing supply and helping to address housing shortages. However, this can only be done through tracing the owners of these properties. We encounter an array of empty properties that have owners who let the house go to rack and ruin. This may be for a few reasons like personal barriers or they may have simply not got around to handling the empty property yet. The owner will always have the final decision with what they want to do.
6. Encouraging Economic Development
Empty commercial properties can hinder economic growth. These vacant spaces could be repurposed for new businesses, creating jobs and revitalizing local economies. By reporting empty commercial properties, you can help drive efforts to attract businesses and entrepreneurs, contributing to economic development in your area.
7. Utilising Public Resources Efficiently
Unreported empty properties can strain public resources. Local governments may have to allocate funds for emergency services to deal with issues arising from these properties. By reporting them, municipalities can proactively address potential problems, allowing for more efficient use of public resources and better planning.
8. Legal Responsibilities and Compliance
In many jurisdictions, property owners have legal responsibilities to maintain their properties, even when they are vacant. Reporting empty properties helps ensure the enforcement of these laws, holding property owners accountable and promoting compliance with local regulations.
Where to Report an Empty Property
You can report any and all empty properties to Blanchards via our website or down below. Empty properties arise mostly due to owners passing away without family to handle their estate. We endeavour to locate the nearest family through genealogy and tracing resources. With family located, we can then begin the process of transferring the property to the heirs, bringing it back to use. Our process is the fastest and immediately most effect resolution to empty properties. This is due to our property securing and insuring service. Within this service, we enter the property, change the locks, and turn off all water and electricity to prevent any further damage. This is just the first stage; next, we return to do a full property clearance, preparing the property for sale.
Conclusion
Reporting empty properties is a civic duty that benefits the entire community. It helps prevent urban decay, enhances safety, supports housing supply, encourages economic development, maintains property values, and promotes efficient use of public resources. By taking the time to report an empty property, you are contributing to the well-being and prosperity of your neighbourhood. So, the next time you come across a vacant property, remember the positive impact that reporting it can have and take action. If you wish to report an empty property, please fill out our form below.
