Empty homes
If you own an empty property, live next door to one, or know of one in your area, tell us about it so we can help bring it back into use.
Report an empty home
Tell us if you know of any empty homes in your area.
It might be empty if:
- the windows have been broken for a long time
- post has not been collected
- windows and doors have been boarded up
- the rooms are always in darkness
- no coming or goings
Provide as much information as possible about the property. This will help us to identify what action we should take.
What happens next
We’ll investigate your report and contact the owner to try to bring the property back into use.
Advice for owners of empty homes
We can help you:
- keep your property safe from squatters
- decide whether to live in, rent or sell your property
- rent your property to us
- organise repairs and find a good builder
- talk to planning and building control
- find out about Council Tax discounts or exemptions
- get VAT reductions when refurbishing long term empty properties
- with grant funding for repairs on empty homes
- become a private landlord and join the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme
To find out more email empty.homes@redbridge.gov.uk
Empty property grant
You can get a grant to help refurbish the property if it has been empty for over six months. The grant covers up to 50% of repair costs and is based on the number of bedrooms in the property. Terms and conditions apply.
To find out more email empty.homes@redbridge.gov.uk
You can also earn money by renting your property to us
If the owner does not bring the property back into use
We may take enforcement action where:
- we’re unable to identify or contact owners
- owners are unwilling or unable to bring properties back into use
- there is an imminent risk to health and safety
We can use legal powers to:
- serve notices for things like pests, rubbish and fly tipping
- enforce a sale
- take over the management of the empty property on a temporary basis. This is known as an empty dwelling management order
- issue a compulsory purchase order
Empty Properties in Redbridge
We receives many requests for a list of empty properties in Redbridge. While we hold information about empty residential properties through Council Tax records, we do not publish or share this information.
This is because making details of empty properties available could increase the risk of crime, such as trespassing, squatting, vandalism, or theft. The Freedom of Information Act allows us to withhold information where releasing it could prejudice the prevention or detection of crime.
Property Investors and Developers
We receive enquiries from individuals and organisations seeking contact details for empty property owners or asking to be matched with owners interested in selling or developing their properties.
We do not keep a register of property investors or developers, provide a matching service, or maintain a list of individuals or organisations interested in purchasing or developing empty properties.
If you are interested in buying a specific empty property, you should first try to contact the owner directly, for example through Land Registry records or by writing to the property address.
If you are unable to contact the owner, you can email the property address and your contact details to Empty.Homes@redbridge.gov.uk
We may be able to contact or pass your contact information to them, however:
- we'll not share the owner's personal information
- we cannot guarantee that your details will be forwarded
- we cannot guarantee that the owner will contact you
In summary, we cannot provide lists of empty properties, property owners, investors, or developers, but may be able to pass your details to a property owner in certain circumstances.
Empty Property Strategy
You can read how we'll tackle the problem of privately owned empty houses to get them back into use.
