Council warning on empty homes

Audlem residents are invited to complain about unsightly empty homes in the village.

It follows a recent case in Crewe where a homeowner was ordered to pay a total of £1,650 for failing to tidy up an empty property.

Cheshire East serves notices on dilapidated empty properties as part of a campaign to bring more houses back into use and to improve the appearance of the area.

The Crewe property owner, who failed to show for the hearing at South Cheshire Magistrates Court, was fined £1,000 for failing to comply with the requirements of the notice.

Cheshire East Council was also awarded costs of £550 and a £100 victim surcharge was added, making a total of £1,650.

Cheshire East said the property had been left empty and neglected for more than five years. The owner had been asked to tidy the garden and hedges, repair broken windows and guttering, replace missing roof tiles and repaint window frames and fascia boards.

Councillor Don Stockton, Cheshire East Cabinet member for housing, said: "Empty properties are a wasted resource, particularly as affordable family homes are in short demand throughout Cheshire East. This is about sending a clear message to absent property owners that they cannot simply dodge their maintenance responsibilities and leave the neighbours and the rest of the community to suffer the effects of their negligence."

Owners of other unsightly empty properties, in Crewe, Weston, Willaston and Alsager have also been issued with notices, and will also be brought before magistrates if they fail to comply.

If anyone would like to complain about an unsightly empty home, please email privatehousing@cheshireeast.gov.uk. Those who own an empty property and want advice on how to bring it back into use, including financial assistance, should email the same address or call 0300 123 5017 and select option 4.

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