Stoke-on-Trent Council Secures Sale of Long-Term Empty Property

Ullswater Avenue residence brought back into use after council action and refurbishment by new owners.

Generic image of a red-brick building facade in the Midlands, with a grey sky.
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Generic image of a red-brick building facade in the Midlands, with a grey sky.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has successfully returned a long-term vacant property on Ullswater Avenue to residential use following a sale facilitated by the council.

The property, which had been unoccupied for many years and had fallen into a poor state of repair, was subject to an order for sale granted to the council in 2025. It was subsequently sold at auction in April 2026.
Following the sale, the council collaborated with the new owners to ensure the property underwent a thorough refurbishment, bringing it back to a good standard. The home is now occupied once again.
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"Bringing empty homes back into use is important for our neighbourhoods. Properties left unoccupied for long periods can fall into disrepair and, in some cases, become a focus for anti-social behaviour."

Councillor Duncan Walker · Cabinet member for safe and resilient communities and housing at Stoke-on-Trent City Council
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"We want Stoke-on-Trent to be a clean, green and safe city for everyone, and tackling long-term empty properties is part of that. By taking action and working with the new owners, we’ve helped bring this home back into use, improving the property and making a positive contribution to the local area."

Councillor Duncan Walker · Cabinet member for safe and resilient communities and housing at Stoke-on-Trent City Council
The council's intervention aims to improve local areas by addressing properties that have been left vacant for extended periods, thereby preventing disrepair and potential anti-social behaviour.
Based on information from the official source: Stoke-on-Trent City Council (19/10/2026)