The pressure is on local councils and housing associations to build 3 million new houses by 2020. The consequences for the environment and the countryside are wide reaching. It is a contentious issue and divides opinion, giving rise to ‘nimbyism’ (not in my backyard).

The government’s response to this was to commission a Pre-Budget Report promising to utilise vacant property. Figures from the Empty Homes Agency claim that there are 840,000 derelict properties currently in the UK. There are a further 420,000 vacant properties registered on the National Land Use Database. The list contains spaces above shops, commercial properties and pubs. The figure is almost a million vacant properties, which amounts to about a third of the government’s target.

You can’t always know who the owner of the derelict building is, or why it has been abandoned to deteriorate. The council has always been in charge of monitoring empty propeties and maintaining them. But it is a recent improvement to see incentives and resourses aimed in this direction.

The owners of derelict property used to find the same lack of incentives. They would argue that they had to rely entirely on the private sector, utilizing the services of a vacant property security specialist. Its up to these companies to offer strategic advice including traveller eviction and squatter removal. Often these eviction services included the removal of hazardous material, whilst affecting a general site clearance.

Whilst squatters are seen as a large problem for owners of derelict properties, it is worth mentioning that positives can exist. A site can be renovated and improved when ’squatted’ by professionals, which can be a benefit to the owner. Once these buildings have become secure, they are probably less likely to be targets for vandalism, reducing further maintenance cost.