Council takes enforcement action over eyesore - The Stratford Observer

Council takes enforcement action over eyesore

Stratford Editorial 26th Oct, 2018   0

STRATFORD District Council has taken over a run down property in Stratford.

The council has been granted an Interim Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO). It is the second time this year the council has taken enforcement action to deal with a problem property.

The latest house, which has been empty for almost a decade, has become an eyesore and prompted a string of complaints from neighbours in the cul-de-sac near the town centre.

The owner refused to talk with the council’s empty property officer about options available to help bring the property back into use leading the authority to take enforcement action.




The interim EDMO means the owner has a limited period to decide what to do with the property.

But if the property remains unoccupied after a year the council will make a final order and take over the management for up to seven years.


District housing spokeswoman Coun Jacqui Harris said: “The district council is committed to providing many types of accommodation in Stratford district in a range of ways.

“Empty homes are a wasted resource, particularly in areas like ours where demand for housing is high. Nobody wants to have empty housing next to them, especially when the owner is not taking responsibility for maintenance.

“In Stratford district we want to be proactive and ensure that neglected, long term empty properties are bought back to the housing market for the benefit of the local community. This is an excellent result on an extremely time consuming and complex case.”

The council intends to continue its work to bring empty homes back into use through EDMO’s, but says it would rather “work positively” with landlords and owners, and is encouraging empty home owners to contact the council to discuss the grants and assistance available.

Email [email protected] or call 01789 260848 to report an empty property.

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