In order for the housing market to function effectively property is often left vacant by its’ owners.  This can be for many differing reasons, including financial difficulties and ownership or inheritance disputes.  On occations, properties are left vacant for long periods and often become problematic attracting anti-social and criminial behaviour.   It is these problematic properties that the Council is intending to deal with.

The Environmental Health Team has certain powers to deal with such properties, especially if they fall into disrepair.  We routinely deal with issues such as penetrating dampness caused by a defect on a neighbouring property, a property that has become open to unauthorised access or refuse that has been deposited in the garden of an empty property.  The Council now has other powers including implimenting an Empty Dwelling Management Order or enforcing the sale of a privately owned property.

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and its partner agencies have developed a new empty property strategy.  A copy of this current strategy can be found in the related documents box below. This strategy sets out how the Council intends to deal with empty properties over the next three years.

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