Leeds City Council is preparing to utilise compulsory purchase powers to obtain a derelict residential property situated on Inglewood Drive in the Seacroft area of the city.
The red brick semi-detached dwelling has remained unoccupied since 2018 and has attracted complaints from local residents regarding its deteriorating condition.
Attempts were previously made to carry out renovation work on the former local authority home without success.
According to a council assessment, the property has fallen into a state of disrepair that has become detrimental to the surrounding neighbourhood.
The current condition of the premises is reported to be having a negative impact on nearby householders, and all available options for supporting a return to occupancy have been exhausted.
Following acquisition, the council has indicated that the property may be kept as social housing stock, transferred to a registered provider of affordable housing, or sold through public auction.
Bringing the dwelling back to a liveable standard would eliminate the nuisance experienced by local residents and remove the risk of continued anti-social activity and further structural decline.
The local authority has been working to reduce the number of unoccupied dwellings across Leeds under a formal housing strategy introduced in 2012.
The policy aims to sustain this reduction and thereby decrease the necessity for constructing new properties, including limiting development on greenfield land.
The approach involves preserving low vacancy rates throughout the city while contributing to the overall housing requirements of the area.
Should the property be sold on to a new owner, that party would be obligated to complete refurbishment works within a specified timeframe.
Records indicate that all properties previously acquired through compulsory purchase have subsequently been reoccupied through this mechanism.
Compensation may be payable to the present owner or any party holding a legal interest in the premises.
