Unoccupied or abandoned properties are not as uncommon as you may think, according to government reports, in 2025 there was a total of 754,264 dwellings classed as empty in England. a figure that has been steadily rising over the past five years.
With all these vacant houses, does this mean you can purchase an unoccupied abandoned property? The answer is yes; you can. However, purchasing an unoccupied and abandoned property may not be as straight forward as purchasing an occupied residential or commercial property.
What to watch out for
When considering purchasing an unoccupied property, it’s important to note some of the potential issues you could face, including:
- Special permission to be granted for renovations, extensions, or demolition of the unoccupied property. Listed buildings or properties of historical significance can often carry tighter restrictions.
- Major work may not be able to be carried out on the unoccupied property until the land has had an environmental survey.
- Before the property can be habitable for residential or commercial tenants, the property must meet the legal requirements for it be rented or leased.
- A could be in place, which can prevent property owners from doing certain things to the property.
Checklist before purchasing
Buying a vacant property can have its risks.
Some important questions to ask before purchasing an unoccupied property could be:
- How long has the property has been vacant for?
- Is the property weather and watertight?
- Is the property connected to utilities such as water, gas and sewerage and are there any restrictions on renovating or demolishing the property?
Other factors to consider before purchasing an unoccupied property are:
- Budgeting
- Researching legal and building restrictions (as mentioned above)
- What utilities are available?
- Investing in the appropriate inspections
- Future maintenance costs
- Unoccupied and general buildings insurance
Further nuisances with unoccupied properties
Because of the lack of human presence, unoccupied properties are prone to other common problems, which should be factored when considering purchasing an vacant property. These include…
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This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice or a recommendation. It does not take into account your individual circumstances. if in doubt, you should seek appropriate professional advice before acting on any of the information provided.
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