Council tells empty home owners – ‘Put your house in order’

 

Cheshire East Council is getting tough with the owners of unsightly empty homes.

The crackdown is the latest round of an ongoing campaign to help bring more houses back into use.

The Council has served notices on two more dilapidated empty properties – both in residential areas in the centre of Crewe.

The authority’s ‘empty homes team’ has used powers under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to require two derelict houses to be upgraded and brought into a better state of repair in Nantwich Road and Gainsborough Road, Crewe.

The aim is to not only improve the appearance of the area – but also ensure homes are lived in once again.

Councillor Jamie Macrae, Cheshire East Cabinet member in charge of prosperity and economic performance, said: “Empty homes are a wasted resource and a frequent cause of nuisance to neighbours and other residents.

“As an enforcing Council, we are determined to tackle the problem of unsightly vacant properties. Owners of empty homes are urged to contact our private sector housing team, who can offer assistance and advice in bringing homes back into use.”

In a related development, notices served earlier this year on a litter-strewn empty property in Station Road, in Handforth, have now resulted in improvement works being carried out by the owner.

Consequently the local environment and outlook has been dramatically transformed for neighbouring householders.

Cllr Macrae added: “This case demonstrates that by tackling nuisance properties real benefits can be gained for local people. The people of Cheshire East can be reassured that we will continue to be vigilant and serve notices on problem empty homes as they arise.”

You can report a problem empty home via the online form on the Cheshire East Council website via the weblink at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/emptyhomes (or this hyperlink: Empty Homes)