Caerphilly County Borough Council has managed to force the sale of two empty and run-down houses in a bid to cut the number of empty properties.
The council forced the owners of the properties to sell through a charging order made at the County Court for payment of a council tax debt.
In a statement, Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “Council tax staff are working together with staff from Housing (Private Sector) to obtain charging orders on run-down empty properties with a view to obtaining court orders to force their sale and bring them back into use to help combat housing shortages within the county borough,
“This action is taken very much a last resort but recently the council have secured two charging orders on long-term empty properties to facilitate their return to use.”
Anyone with a legal financial interest in a property who owes council tax arrears could end up having a charging order made in the County Court.
The order does not automatically force a sale, but if for whatever reason the property is subsequently sold or re-mortgaged the debt and any legal costs incurred in obtaining the order will have to be paid first.
I find this interesting, I know of five properties within the Caerffili basin that have been empty for more than a year. I know of one, in a street in the town, that has been empty for more than eight years. It is time something was done to return these homes to the market or for people to rent.
I am pleased that the council is taking some action, it looks as though there has to be council tax owed before this action can be taken. But, at least some houses will be made available, instead of building new homes on already overcrowded areas such as on the ex-industrial site off Bedwas Road.
Is this action purely down to the show on channel 4 by george clarke? Have they been shamed into it?