We must by law, review the housing conditions in the Bolton area from time to time. This will help us identify properties which have outlived their useful life or have been abandoned. Many of these houses will be what the law refers to as “unfit for habitation”.
We have to decide on the best course of action to deal with the properties and this may be by including them in a clearance area and then demolishing them.
How demolition assessment works
- regular reviews of housing conditions will highlight properties that are unfit and vacant
- we need to first decide on properties in clearance areas, this will be based on the estimated levels of unfitness. In order to do this, a report must be produced and the recommendation agreed by the Council's Executive
- we then need to carry out a detailed internal and external inspection of all the houses proposed in the clearance area
- following the survey of the houses, we will be able to decide whether, the houses are unfit for habitation and whether or not the best way of dealing with the unfit houses is by their demolition
- after the decision to include the properties in the proposed clearance areas we must carry out a formal consultation of all owners
Consultation process
We must consult with everyone who has a legal interest in the unfit properties. These may be owner-occupiers, landlords, financial institutions eg banks, building societies.
An advertisement will be placed in the local press indicating that we intend to include the houses in the clearance areas.
In addition, we will send a formal notice to people affected, inviting them to submit any comments they have, or make representations to us within 28 days of receiving the notice.
We also carry out an assessment of the future housing requirements of those that would be displaced by the clearance, so that their housing needs can be accommodated.
Owners of properties that are fit for habitation will not receive a formal notice and their properties will not appear in the press advertisement. They will however, receive a letter asking them for their comments on the clearance proposal within 28 days. as their properties may have to be included in any compulsory purchase order as 'added lands'.
All tenants will also be consulted on the proposal and their views will also be taken into account.