A long-term empty property is usually easy to identify as it may be neglected and in a state of disrepair. Some telltale signs may include:
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Large amount of uncollected post building up inside the front door.
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Is the garden being maintained or is rubbish being dumped and not removed?
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Are there signs of disrepair and external damage that are not being dealt with, eg broken windows, graffiti, damaged roof?
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Has the property been boarded up (ie doors and windows fitted with metal or wooden grilles)?
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Are any lights left on or does anyone ever visit the property?
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Do the neighbours know anything about the property? It is worth asking neighbours what they know about the property and its owner and how long they can remember the property being empty.
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Does the council know about the empty property? Contact the local authority where the property is located to see if the property is listed on their records as a long-term empty.
Where there is a combination of the above factors, the chances are that the property is a long-term empty. You can report any long-term empty properties by clicking here or to contact the local authority direct click here
You can also contact:
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Estate agents - They don't their shop windows to be cluttered with pictures of dilapidated, but that doesn't mean to say that they haven't some details of houses in need of rescuing in the back of the filing cabinet. So, make sure you ask to see what's available.
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Online auctions - Auction catalogues are a good place to find empty properties that are for sale. On the web look out for websites that specialise in empty properties.
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Land for sale - More often than not building land for sale already has a house on it that the seller is inviting you to buy to demolish. Often the house is beyond saving but sometimes it's salvageable.