By Anika Bourley Parliamentary Correspondent

Last updated at 13:33, Monday, 16 November 2009

More than 4,000 “ghost houses” are being left to rot by private landlords across Cumbria – but just one council is using powers to bring them back into force.

Empty dwelling management orders (EDMOs) are designed to kick out a landlord refusing to co-operate with attempts to bring a property back into use.

Two properties have been refurbished in Carlisle in that way – and just 27 nationally. No other Cumbrian council has used the powers. Carlisle City Council attempted to use the powers a further two times but homes were sold before action was completed.

Latest figures show there are 1,180 privately-owned empty homes in Allerdale, 1,488 in Carlisle, 1,310 in Copeland and 379 in Eden.

Carlisle Olwyn Luckley, Portfolio holder for Health and Community Development, said: “The city council was one of the first local authority in the north west to use the new housing powers. Empty properties are a blight on local communities and can often attract vandalism and cause considerable distress to neighbouring property owners and tenants.

"By using the legislation, we are sending the message out that, in addition to providing support through renovation grants and advice, we will also take action against those owners who don’t take appropriate care for their properties.

"At a time of increased housing need we need to look at bringing properties that are unoccupied and have been off the market for a long time back into use, for the benefit of local residents and their communities.”

EDMOs, introduced in 2006, give a council temporary management rights over homes at risk of falling prey to squatters, drug-dealers and fly-tippers – allowing a house to revert to its original owner at a later date.

Across the UK, the number of empty homes has hit a million.

An Allerdale council spokesman said: “There are a number of different powers available to us that the council has used fairly widely, especially in respect of dilapidated properties.

“Often we prefer to negotiate with owners to take action before taking more serious action ourselves.”

First published at 11:37, Monday, 16 November 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk