Estate Regeneration
The Council has to decide on the best course of action to deal with properties that have outlived their useful life |  |
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The Council must by law, review the housing conditions in its area from time to time. As a result, properties are then identified which may have outlived their useful life or have been abandoned. Many of these houses will be unfit for habitation.
The Council has then to decide on the best course of action to detail with these properties and this may be by including them in a clearance area and subsequently demolishing them.
| The First Steps in the Procedure |
Regular reviews of housing conditions will highlight properties that are suffering from high levels of unfitness and vacancy.
The Council must first decide to include properties in principle in clearance areas, based on the estimated levels of unfitness. In order to seek a Council decision to do this, a report must be produced and the recommendation agreed by the Council Cabinet.
The Council must then carry out a detailed internal and external inspection of all the houses it proposes to include in clearance.
Following the survey of the house, the Council will be able to decide whether, in its option, the houses are unfit for habitation and whether or not the best way of dealing with the unfit houses is by their demolition.
Following the decision to include the properties in the proposed clearance areas the Council must carry out formal consultation of all owners.
| Formal Consultation Process |
The Council must consult with everyone who has a legal interest in the unfit properties. These may be owner occupiers, landlords, financial institutions eg. banks and building societies.
An advertisement will be place in the local press indicating that the Council intends to include the houses in clearance areas.
In addition, the Council also sends a formal notice to all interest parties of the unfit houses, inviting them to submit any comments they have or make representations to the Council within 28 days of receiving the notice.
There is also an assessment of the future housing requirements of those that would be displaced by clearance so that their housing needs can be accommodated.
Owners of properties that are fit for habitation will not receive a formal notice and their properties will not appear in the press advertisement.
The Owners will however, receive a letter asking them for their comments on the clearance proposal within 28 days as their properties will be included in the compulsory purchase order as added lands.
All tenants will be consulted on the proposal and their views will also be taken into account.
As and when groups of houses are acquired, arrangements will be made for their demolition.
As part of this action the Council will support residents in a number of ways, including those wishing to be re-housed into public sector rented accommodation will be given priority on the Housing list, and the choice to rent Council Housing or a property owned by any of the Registered Landlords.
If your home is being redeveloped, you maybe able to claim a disturbance allowance/expenses to help with the move.
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