Hundreds of empty properties at risk of 'decay'

6 days ago

News image — Dozens of homes in Bradford have been empty for more than a decade

LDRS The interior of a severely damaged and abandoned room. The walls are blackened and charred. The ceiling beams are exposed, and the wooden structure appears burned and deteriorated. There is a dirty, stained mattress leaning against the wall, and the floor is littered with scattered papers, debris, and what looks like a piece of clothing or fabric. A small, damaged piece of furniture stands near the centre of the room. The window and door openings are boarded up with wooden planks, but some daylight is coming through. Outside the door, part of a street and a parked car are visible. — Dozens of homes in Bradford have been empty for more than a decade

Chris YoungLocal Democracy Reporter

Hundreds of properties standing empty in Bradford are at risk of decay, a report has warned.

In November, 3,425 properties had been empty for more than six months, while 387 had been empty for more than five years. A further 125 had been empty for more than 10 years.

Members of Bradford Council's regeneration and environment scrutiny committee will hear about the council's effort to bring them back into use at a meeting later.

A report to councillors said: "Without the team's intervention the properties are likely to decay and attract antisocial behaviour and in turn blight neighbourhoods."

The number of long term empty properties has fallen from 3,484 in 2023 to 3,425 in November 2025, according to the report.

It said most of the owners only have one or two properties, often obtained through inheritance or a relationship breakdown, meaning they are not large portfolio holders or landlords operating multiple properties.

"The team has seen an increase in the number of cases where owners have died and family members are not traceable or will not obtain probate in order to settle the estate and deal with the property," the report said.

The report said the council prioritised dealing with "the most problematic" empty properties or those considered to be high risk, the Local Democracy Service reports.

'Compulsory purchase'

The assessment takes into account the time the property has stood empty, the impact on surrounding properties, nuisance, the attitude of the owner, the condition of the property, the location and history of the property.

There are currently 79 high risk properties being dealt with, the report said, with the team working with owners to explore options to bring them back into use.

One method is for the council to "compulsory purchase" the empty homes – essentially forcing owners to sell them.

The council often then puts these properties back on the market, usually through auctions.

Since 2016, the council had compulsory purchased 43 properties and brought them back to use.

There are currently 11 long term empty homes that Bradford Council is working to compulsory purchase, the report added.

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