Home owners who leave properties empty and neglected will be served with a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), under plans announced by Haringey Council.
The council has warned the owners of seven homes - which have been repeatedly broken into to and generated complaints from neighbours - they must take urgent action to bring them back into use.
Cllr Alan Strickland, the council’s cabinet member for regeneration and housing, said: ‘While families across Haringey struggle to save for a deposit or find an affordable place to rent, it’s unacceptable that homes are being left empty and falling into disrepair.
‘CPO will be used as a last resort and is one of a range of measures we’re taking to get homes back into use, protect tenants from rogue landlords and tackle the scourge of rip-off agency lettings fees.’
Any homes purchased by the council will be sold onto housing associations or private buyers.
