Empty Properties

Overview

To report an Empty Property please email us at emptyproperty@birmingham.gov.uk providing the following information :

Full address of the property
Type of property, for example, bungalow, flat, semi-detached house
A description of the external condition of the property
Length of time it’s been empty
Any additional information about the property, for example about the owner or any known occurrences of nuisance
Your contact details.

Residential properties that stand empty in Birmingham are a target for squatters, vandals and burglars. Instead, they could be providing homes for the many people who need one.

That is why, as part of a nationwide plan to get empty properties back into use, we’ve made it easy for you to tell us about a property you know stands empty. It doesn’t matter whether it belongs to the council or is privately owned.

We will investigate and take whatever steps are appropriate. The Empty Homes Agency and the Housing Department's Empty Homes Strategy update below can also give you information about this.

Please note: we cannot provide a list of privately owned empty properties in Birmingham. Please read our statement attached below for more information about this.

Essential Information

To report an Empty Property please email emptyproperty@birmingham.gov.uk providing the following information to tell us about an empty property:
- Full address of the property
- type of property, for example, bungalow, flat, semi-detached house
- a description of the external condition of the property
- length of time it’s been empty
- any additional information about the property, for example about the owner or any known occurrences of nuisance and
- your contact details.
Empty Properties Team
Old Wyndcliffe School
Little Green Lane
Small Heath
Birmingham
B9 5BG
Telephone: 0121 303 7978
E-mail:emptyproperty@birmingham.gov.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

- We can advise you on the options available, whatever the reason your property is empty.
  
  If you’d like to rent it out, we can tell you what’s involved and give you tips and guidance on the steps to take.
  
  If you want to keep the property for yourself, we can also offer advice on how to turn it into a secure and well-maintained home.
  
  For further information please email us at emptyproperty@birmingham.gov.uk and we will contact you.
- You should clearly understand that becoming a landlord is a business opportunity and must be seen as such. If you have no business experience and limited time, you should seriously consider if becoming a landlord is a suitable option for you.
  
  You could choose for a professional agent to manage the tenancy on your behalf. Some estate agents provide this service and you can also get information from:
  
  The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA)
  Maple House
  53-55 Woodside Road
  Amersham
  Bucks
  Phone: 0845 345 5752
  Fax: 01494 431 530
  Email: info@arla.co.uk
  
  The National Approved Lettings Scheme
  Tavistock House
  5 Rodney Road
  Cheltenham
  GL50 1HX
  Phone: 01242 581 712
  Fax: 01242 232 518
  Email: info@nalscheme.co.uk
  
  If you want to discuss this further you can contact our private rented services team on 0121 303 5341 or write to:
  
  Private Rented Services
  Waterlinks house
  Richard St
  Aston
  Birmingham
  B7 4AA
- If your property is only lived in occasionally – perhaps because you live elsewhere at other times – you need to make arrangements for it to be secure and well maintained during your absences.
  
  To prevent the property falling into disrepair and becoming a target for vandalism you should at least ensure that:
  - You have adequate insurance
  - your gardens are maintained to a minimum standard
  - it appears as though it is occupied, for example, by hanging curtains
  - you inspect it regularly, making any necessary repairs and fixing any damage
  - you could also give a neighbour a telephone number so that someone can be contacted in an emergency

Attachments

Empty Property Strategy

Empty Propety Strategy 2009/10 update

Privately owned empty properties - privacy statement

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External Links

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