finding out house information (looks like it's derelict/abandoned)

[SidewinderINC]

Hi all,

Is there any easy way of finding out info about houses that look like they're abandoned or not lived in?

There's a really nice looking house around the corner from us (http://goo.gl/maps/Gs1Bx) that is now completely overgrown, covered in graffiti and the outsides of the wooden window frames are starting to rot away. You can barely get to the front door from the gate, but think it would be a little awkward/rude to just go and knock the door if somebody does live there.

This question is not specific to this house, there have been loads of houses we have seen in the past that look like they could be really nice but are overgrown and look like they're abandoned.

I tried calling the council about one previously that was boarded up and got nowhere :( they said they couldn't give any information out.

Anyone have any experience of stuff like this before?

Cheers

Matt.

[Glaucus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/homes/property/buying_rescueahouse1.shtml#finding_out_who_owns_th e_property

Finding out who owns the property
Once you've found an empty property, how do you know who owns it? It may be as simple as asking the people who live near by. If you explain to them why you want to know, they will probably be happy to tell you.

Many properties are registered at the Land Registry. For a small fee you can look at the register and see who the owner is. The HM Land Registry website for England and Wales is: www.landregisteronline.gov.uk, the Registers of Scotland Executive Agency is: www.ros.gov.uk and the Land Registry of Northern Ireland is: www.lrni.gov.uk.

Most local authorities have a register of empty properties and know who the owner is. Local authorities have different policies on disclosing this information. If your local authority won't tell you, you could put the request in writing citing the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

[SidewinderINC]

Cheers :D

Done some searching as it's such a peculiar house to still be standing there bearing in mind the surroundings.

here's a little more on this building : http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-356861-11-gravesend

can buy the information from the land registry for £4 or just ask the neighbours.
I think it'll be quite pricey if it's listed.

[Glaucus]

Does that says its listed?

[SidewinderINC]

I've checked british heritage which says it's definitely listed and the land registry shows that there are provisions to change, but doesn't detail anything more than that.

I though there would be laws/requirements for listed buildings to not be allowed to fall into a state of disrepair?
If you have to request planning permission to make changes surely letting it fall apart is just the same?

[Mark]

Assuming it's Grade II (most are), then "Grade II buildings are of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them." (source: DCMS).

Doesn't sound like a statutory mandate to prevent dereliction to me.

[A Place of Light]

If the building is listed, and you'd want to make alterations or do some building work, it can be problematic to say the least.

[SidewinderINC]

Assuming it's Grade II (most are), then "Grade II buildings are of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them." (source: DCMS).

Doesn't sound like a statutory mandate to prevent dereliction to me.

Thank you for defining what a grade two listed building is, I really had no idea......
Wasn't sure whether anyone knew for sure so did some additional searching.

as it happens

http://www.burnley.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=85&categoryID=514&pageNumber=3

http://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=25981#CantheCounciltakeanyaction ifalistedbuildingfallsintodisrepair

https://www.gloucester.gov.uk/LGNL/Housing/Planning/Planning-listedbuildings-statutoryregister/WhathappensifyourListedBuildingfallsintodisrepair-isthereanyfinancialhelpavailable.aspx


And that does cover Grade II as well as Grade I and Grade II*


I figured as much APoL, and considering what this house looks like from the outside I can foresee a lot of work being needed on the inside. There's a few smaller outhouses in the back garden from what I can see - no idea about what's out there though.

I'm quite intrigued about this house now though haha.

[BBx]

Planning on squatting somewhere?! :p

BB x

[SidewinderINC]

Planning on squatting somewhere?! :p

BB x

shhh :p

[A Place of Light]

I figured as much APoL, and considering what this house looks like from the outside I can foresee a lot of work being needed on the inside. There's a few smaller outhouses in the back garden from what I can see - no idea about what's out there though.

I'm quite intrigued about this house now though haha.
Believe me mate, the obstacles they can throw in your path can either stop what would've been a simple job on a conventional house, or make it prohibitively expensive.
Tread very carefully and dont assume anything as a given when dealing with either a listed building or other nightmares like on trust land etc.

[Kitten]

I remember a friend buying a partially listed building & having to repoint the back wall. Didn't realise she'd need a specialist builder who could make a100 year old mortar recipe & would charge around ten times a regular builder. Be very careful, there are many hidden legalities as as been mentioned.

[A Place of Light]

A friend of mine had a building project (listed) and the planning officers ego went into overdrive once the word "listed" was mentioned. He demanded white mortar to which I replied that it didn't exist. He said "but that's what I want", so I said if you can find it we will use it. A month later my friend got a letter from said planning officer which said "reluctantly I've had to compromise on the White mortar issue".

The muppet.

[Flibster]

A friend of mine had a building project (listed) and the planning officers ego went into overdrive once the word "listed" was mentioned. He demanded white mortar to which I replied that it didn't exist. He said "but that's what I want", so I said if you can find it we will use it. A month later my friend got a letter from said planning officer which said "reluctantly I've had to compromise on the White mortar issue".

The muppet.

I family friend went through about 17 different bricks to build a wall that wasn't even visible from the house or the road outside.

They had to buy the bricks, call the looney officer, he'd them come have a look and a consider and then say no.

They asked What bricks can we use then?, and his responce was I'm not here to tell you that, I'm just here to approve or reject.

At the end, they were given half a dozen bricks of each that was available, called the nutter round and he chose the bricks that they had bought first of all and he rejected.

Waste of space the lot of them.

[A Place of Light]

Waste of space the lot of them.

Sadly, unless its a minor project the most relevant factor tends to be the personality of your planning officer.

[Glaucus]

There was one on grand deisgn that fell into disrepair. Asically no owner and I can only assume council didnt know. They managed to get quite a bit of planning permission as it was in such bad state, so basically they paid to renovate it. Iirc they spent loads though as they had to make sure any walls still standing stayed up.
Doesn't sound like yours is actually falling down though.

[SidewinderINC]

From the views of the house I can get (without climbing the surrounding walls) it doesn't appear to be falling down, just rotting woodwork on the outside and completely overgrown garden (grass over 4ft tall, piggy and desmo would get lost in it :p)

If what you have described is more often that not the norm, Flibster, then I can definitely say it is not for me!

The field I work in, you say you're not happy with what somebody has proposed, you have to give constructive answers as to what you actually want - I don't think I could deal with anything different..

[Mark]

I'm convinced that the word 'constructive' is alien to councils - and I'm not just talking about planning officers.

And yes, some of my family have worked for councils. Not in public-facing roles, mind.

[A Place of Light]

Im going through planning channels now.
Believe me when I say that unless you've been through them before, you have no idea how petty/obstructive/unhelpful/plain awkward they can be.