Everyday people follow their daily routines whether they are commuting or on the school run. Along the way, you might notice a property that stands out from the rest. Postal workers, leaflet distributors and dog walkers often travel the same paths every day, which means they are the first to spot changes in their neighbourhood. You might even speak to residents and learn that a property has been empty for months or even years. These small observations can be the first clues that a home has been left empty.
Signs of an empty property
Across the UK, more than 260,000 properties are classed as long‑term empty homes. Some common signs that a property may be abandoned include:
- No signs of activity, such as no lights on or an empty driveway
- Overgrown or poorly maintained gardens
- Uncollected post or parcels left at the door
- Boarded‑up windows or damaged doors
- Dumped rubbish, including waste left by fly‑tippers
- Long‑term neglect, such as broken windows, peeling paint or missing roof tiles
- Complaints from neighbours or signs of animals suggesting possible pests
- Vandalism or damage to the property
For example; A postal worker struggles reaching the home’s front door because the garden is overgrown and notices the mail hasn’t been collected for over a year.
Why reporting an empty property is important
Empty properties are often reported to us for a variety of reasons. Most commonly by neighbours who are affected by the condition of the property or concerned about the impact on their own homes. Empty homes can quickly become hotspots for vandalism, squatting, and environmental damage, all of which can reduce the value and appeal of surrounding properties.
With demand for housing increasing due to housing shortages and a growing population, some people also report empty homes in the hope of purchasing them. However, before any sale can take place, we must first identify and locate the deceased owner’s heirs.
By reporting these properties, you can help Blanchards trace property owners or their next of kin. This allows us to get in contact with heir and start the process of managing the estate.
Blanchards role
Blanchards specialises in identifying and locating the next of kin of deceased property owners. In situations where the property owner has passed away intestate (without a will), often the estate including the property is left unclaimed. Councils often don’t have the resources to trace rightful heirs, so properties can sit empty for long periods of time. Therefore, if the owner of the property has passed away, we can locate heirs and bring the property back into use.
Our services include:
- Tracing missing owner(s) of property
- Locating next of kin to deceased owners
- We handle the entire estate
- Secure and insure the empty property
- House clearance
How to report a property
If you suspect a property is empty, please fill out our contact form. Please include the following information of the property address, postcode and any observations of the property.
