Anger at home 'left empty since 1979'

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing

Brighton & Hove City Council leader Bill Randall says the local authority is pushing hard for the compulsory purchase of a family home in the city which has lied empty since Margaret Thatcher came to power in 1979.

The council has tried numerous attempts to force the owner Derek Burns to sell or improve the three-bedroom Victorian home, including offering a grant of £29,000 to do it up.

Despite the money being used on improvements, the home is still lying empty.

Now, with a city waiting list of over 13,000 people, local people are becoming frustrated at the sight of the empty home.

The property, 87 Chester Terrace, is one of 985 in the city that have been empty for more than six months - 137 are council owned (14%) and 848 private sector (86%). The council expects at least half of these to be back in use within a year.

However, the ownership of 87 Chester Terrace isn't straightforward as the mortgage is in the possession of another name.

Brighton & Hove City Council Leader Bill Randall (pictured) said: “We are pushing as hard as we can for a public enquiry to confirm the compulsory purchase order for 87 Chester Terrace. This administration is absolutely committed to resolving the situation.

"None of this should detract from the tremendous success of our empty property team in recent years. They have brought 154 homes back into use in the past year alone and more than 1,000 over the last seven years.

"I find it bizarre that this case gone on for so long, and I also think it’s time we started standing up for the long-suffering neighbours of this property more."

Mr Randall was involved in the setting up of the Empty Homes Agency - which campaigns to bring empty properties back into use - back in the 1990s.

He said: "Above all this one illustrates just how difficult it can be for councils to take effective action when there is a complete lack of co-operation from the property’s owners and they consistently fail to deliver on their promises.

"Everyone would agree that it’s right and proper that owners should be given every last chance to bring their empty homes back into use before councils can make a compulsory purchase. But I think this is a case where the council has been too patient with the owners and given them the benefit of the doubt for too long.

"I find it astonishing that the owners haven’t at any stage simply decided to sell the property if they can’t afford the necessary renovation work, rather than leaving it empty for all this time without any benefit to them.

"We’re absolutely committed to bringing as many empty homes as possible back into use as quickly as possible. The city faces a housing crisis and we must make the best use of all available housing.”