What the Council can do
Council powers
The Highland Council can take action in certain cases, including:
- Works Notice: requires the owner to carry out repairs
- Maintenance Order: requires a plan to maintain the property
- Defective Building Notice: addresses significant repair issues
- Dangerous Building Notice: used when a property poses an immediate danger
Action depends on the severity of the issue and available resources.
Environmental health
Environmental health officers may investigate issues such as:
- pests (rats, mice, insects)
- significant water ingress
- strong odours affecting living areas
Not all problems will be considered a statutory nuisance. Officers assess:
- impact
- frequency
- duration
- health risks
If you are affected, provide evidence such as:
- repair costs
- medical letters
- photos showing deterioration
- letters from other neighbours
Anti-social behaviour
Empty homes may attract anti-social behaviour, including:
- fly-tipping
- graffiti
- vandalism
- unauthorised entry
- fire setting
If there is criminal activity or danger, contact the police immediately.
Keep a log of incidents and report them to:
- Highland Council’s Empty Homes Service
- Police Scotland (non-emergency: 101)
Council action
We may take action if an empty home poses a risk to public health or safety. This includes:
- contacting the owner
- working with environmental health and building standards
- assessing the property using a scoring system