Property Owner Finder Service

Descriptions

Dorset Council is seeking a supplier to provide owner tracing services, free of charge.r r There are currently 1300 homes which are long term empty (6 months or more) of which 335r have been empty for 2 years or more (Council Tax data; October 2023).r r The Housing Standards Team currently has ongoing enforcement action relating to 93 longr erm empty properties, with four cases currently subject to compulsory purchase proceedings.r r It is common for the owners of abandoned properties to be absent and their whereaboutsr unknown or difficult to trace.r r Dorset Council is seeking a supplier to provide owner tracing services.r r As part of their business offering, a number of Professional Probate Research companies provide free absent owner tracing services to public authorities.r r The service provider then offers a discretionary, chargeable service to identified owners orr next of kin on a no obligation basis. This chargeable service normally involves resolvingr issues with the estate, helping with probate and other similar matters. This chargeable servicer is not part of the Council's involvement.r r There is also the potential opportunity to undertake focussed investigations of certain emptyr property groups, including Class F exemption Council Tax cases.