Response 4091100

Response to request for information

Reference

4091100

Response date

21 September 2026

Request

I am requesting information held by Rushcliffe Borough Council relating to privately owned residential properties currently recorded as long-term empty via Council Tax. I would like the following information, preferably in spreadsheet/CSV format where available:

1. Current long-term empty properties. Please provide the current number of residential properties recorded as long-term empty, broken down by the following periods where this information is held (if possible):
   • 6 –12 months.
   • 1 – 2 years.
   • 2 – 5 years.
   • 5 – 10 years.
   • 10+ years.
2. Property information. For properties recorded as empty for 2 years or more, please provide, where disclosure is permitted (if possible):
   • Full property address.
   • Postcode.
   • UPRN.
   • Date first recorded as empty.
   • Length of time recorded as empty.
   • Current empty-property status/category.
   • Whether the property is recorded as privately owned, company owned, Council owned, housing association/social landlord owned or another category.
   • Whether the property is currently subject to empty-homes intervention or casework.
3. Properties potentially being brought to market. Please provide the number of long-term empty properties currently recorded as:
   • Being actively marketed for sale.
   • Being actively marketed for letting.
   • Subject to probate.
   • Awaiting sale.
   • Awaiting renovation or refurbishment.
   • Awaiting an owner to commence works.
   • Otherwise considered capable of being brought back into use.

Where this information is held at property level and can be disclosed, please provide the relevant property identifier/address.

I appreciate that information relating to individual properties may raise personal-data considerations. Please note I am not requesting the names, telephone numbers, email addresses, correspondence addresses or other personal information of property owners, Council Tax account holders, tenants or other individuals. If the Council considers that the full address of an individual property cannot be disclosed, please provide the maximum amount of information that can lawfully be disclosed, such as:

• UPRN.
• Postcode.
• Street name.
• Property type.
• Length of vacancy.
• Date vacancy commenced.
• Empty-property category/status.
• Ownership category.

If one particular field is exempt, please do not withhold the remaining information. If the Council relies on an exemption or exception to withhold any information, please identify the specific exemption/exception and explain how it applies.

If the requested information is held within an existing database, spreadsheet or other electronic system, I would be grateful if it could be supplied in its existing electronic format rather than requiring the Council to create a new report. If the Council does not hold one or more of the requested fields, please simply confirm which information is not held rather than treating the entire request as invalid.
Thank you for your consideration on this request.

Response

Here is the data that can be released to you.

I am unable to release the remaining 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.

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 addition, I would refer you to previous Freedom of Information request Response 4083817. This includes a recent review of our position in this regard.