Council Seizes Empty Properties In Bid To Tackle Homelessness

Birmingham city council has seized seven houses from their owners – because they have been empty for more than 10 years. The unkempt buildings were described by the council as “eyesore properties”. It was announced that all of the property owners were served with Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) – meaning the authority can exercise ‘enforcement powers to get the properties brought back into use as family homes’. The seized homes will now be sold as leasehold at auction, with the provision that the new owners bring them back into use within a year. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/council-seizes-empty-properties-in-bid-to-tackle-homelessness/

Control Of Grenfell Tower Site To Be Handed Over To Government, Not Council

Grenfell survivors have expressed their relief that responsibility for the gutted tower block will be handed over to the government, rather than the local council, after a police probe is completed. The MHCLG said that, although Kensington and Chelsea council (RBKC) is the legal owner of the site, it will “take no role in the management or decision making” going forward. The announcement comes just days after concerns were raised that the site would fall under the remit of the local authority once the police investigation was completed. Read more on the Huffpost website.

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/grenfell-tower-site-government-rbkc_uk_5b61c300e4b0fd5c73d53969