Council leaders have approved new powers that could see privately-owned homes forcibly sold to recover unpaid debts owed to Westmorland and Furness Council.
The decision was made at today's meeting of the Westmorland and Furness Council Cabinet in Appleby, where members voted to adopt the council's new Enforced Sales Policy.
The policy gives the council the ability to force the sale of certain residential properties where owners fail to pay debts arising from council enforcement action. It is aimed primarily at long-term empty and problematic homes that have fallen into serious disrepair and where owners have failed to comply with statutory notices.
The council says the policy will help bring empty properties back into use, improve the appearance of neighbourhoods and recover public money spent carrying out enforcement work.
Under the new policy, if a property owner ignores a legal notice requiring works to be carried out, the council can step in and complete the work itself. The cost of those works then becomes a debt owed by the owner.
If that debt remains unpaid and has been properly registered as a legal charge against the property, the council can use its new powers to force the sale of the home in order to recover the money owed.
Council officers told cabinet the policy would act as a "proactive deterrent", encouraging owners to maintain their properties and comply with legal notices before enforcement action becomes necessary.
The report said the policy would also improve the condition and appearance of housing and local neighbourhoods, encourage responsible property ownership and enable the recovery of debts incurred through statutory housing and environmental enforcement activity.
It added that bringing long-term empty homes back into use could help reduce crime, improve wellbeing and contribute to safer and more stable communities.
The council says enforced sales will only be considered after other attempts to recover debts have failed. Cases expected to be prioritised include long-term vacant properties or homes in serious disrepair that have a detrimental impact on the surrounding area, properties where the council has carried out statutory works in default, and cases where reasonable efforts to engage with the owner have been unsuccessful.
Cllr Derbyshire proposed the policy be approved saying "it would be a last case use policy" with Cllr Thornton seconding the motion with all ten cabinet members voting to approve the policy.
With the policy now approved, Westmorland and Furness Council has formally adopted the legal framework allowing it to pursue enforced sales where the necessary legal conditions have been met.
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