Empty Property Management
Case reference FOI2021/00179
Published 9 December 2021
Request
Does the Council use any private company to:
1. Trace owners of private residential empty property? If so, which Company/ies does the Council use?
2. Recover Council Tax or other debts from Empty private residential property? If so, which Company/ies does the Council use?
3. Check lists of presumed empty private residential property for any reason whatsoever? If so, which Company/ies does the Council use?
Response
Q1. Our Empty Properties Team have advised that options are being explored but no formal agreements have been undertaken.
The Council Tax Team have advised that they will use Land Registry to identify owners of properties, and TransUnion to trace any debtors where they do not have a forwarding address.
Q2. The Council Tax Team have advised that recovery for empty properties is the same as the recovery of any other property and in accordance with legislation.
An external company is used if the matter has reached Enforcement Agent - cases are then referred to Bristow & Sutor.
Please note that this is the external agencies Hoople use on behalf of Herefordshire council.
Q3. The Empty Properties Team and Council Tax Team have advised they do not use a private company.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.