Response 3886616

Response to request for information

Reference

3886616

Response date

4 February 2026

Request

1. A list of all residential properties within your local authority area that are currently recorded as:
   1. Long-term empty (unoccupied for more than 6 months)
   2. Subject to an Empty Homes Premium for Council Tax
   3. Exempt from Council Tax under any empty property exemption category (e.g., Class C, Class D, Class F, etc.)
2. For each property, please provide:
   • Full postal address (or, if you consider this disclosable only in part, the maximum level of detail permissible such as street name and postcode sector)
   • The date on which the property was first recorded as empty, or if this is not held, the total length of time (in months or years) that the property has been recorded as empty
   • The applicable Council Tax class, exemption, or premium
3. Please also provide:
   • The number of properties currently under consideration for, or subject to, an Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO)
   • The number of properties currently under consideration for, or subject to, Compulsory Purchase relating to long-term emptiness

Response

In relation to questions 1 and 2 of your request we confirm that we hold the information requested.  However, we are will not release the information requested as the information is exempt from disclosure by virtue of section 31 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  Section 31(1)(a) states that the information is exempt if its disclosure would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime.  The Council has considered the arguments for and against disclosure and has applied the Public interest Test.  The Council's decision is that it would not be in the public interest to disclose information about empty properties as it would be likely to result in criminal activities such as squatting, theft and vandalism.

In refusing your request the Council relies on the Information Tribunal's decision (Case No.EA/2011/0007) dated 22 January 2013 where it was found that the London Borough of Camden was entitled to refuse a request for information about empty properties because the section 31(1)(a) exemption "was engaged and the public interest in  maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing  it".  The Council also relies on  London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea case where the Information Commissioner considered the London Borough of Camden case and came to the decision that "the council acted appropriately by refusing to disclose the requested information under section 31(1)(a) of the FOIA" - see https://ico.org.uk/media/action-weve-taken/decision-notices/2015/1043628/fs_50559176.pdf

In relation to question 3 of your request, we currently have 3 properties that are being considered for EDMO or CPO action.