Council seizes five empty properties
Birmingham City Council has had their applications for Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) approved, so they can now exercise their enforcement powers to seize five empty properties.
The houses are situated in Rookery Road, Handsworth, Ward End Park Road, Ward End, Runnymede Road, Sparkhill, Westridge Road, Kings Heath and Cavendish Road, Edgbaston.
Cabinet member for Housing and Homes, Cllr Peter Griffiths said: “These houses have been left abandoned and neglected by the owners, which is completely unacceptable. The neighbours have had to suffer the worry and anxiety that living adjacent to these eyesore properties can cause.
“Birmingham City Council’s Empty Property strategy encourages owners of empty properties to return them to residential use. Where this fails, as last resort, the Council considers the use of compulsory purchase powers.”
The five properties under CPO will now be sold leasehold at auction, with the requirement that new owners bring them back into use within twelve months.
If there is an empty home causing a nuisance in your local area, report it to the empty properties team on (0121) 303 7978 emptyproperty@birmingham.gov.uk twitter @bccemptyhomes.
