Tracing an unknown/absent owner is the first step towards bringing an empty property back into use. The following steps outline the steps you can take to find the name and whereabouts of an owner.
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You could start by posting a notice on the door of the empty property stating that you would like to contact the owner.
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Talk to neighbour's and any neighbourhood community groups as well as local shopkeepers - they may well know something about the owner. This method costs nothing and can often yield valuable information about an empty property.
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You could do a search of Land Registry, which has information on all owners of registered land. Complete Form 313 and the details will be sent to you within 48 hours (cost £4). This is a useful way to find the owner's name, but the address given is often the same as the empty property address. To find out more information about the Land Registry click here
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Once you know the owner's name, you could trace him/her via the internet or through a firm of genealogists
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If the owner of the empty home has died and the will is disputed or the heirs do not come forward, the property can sit 'in limbo' while the identity of the new owner is being established and there will be a question mark over who is responsible for it.