Vacant properties
Case reference FOI2026/01658
Received 20 October 2026
Published 10 November 2026
Request
Please could you provide the following information for areas that fall under Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's authority for the period 1 January 2021 to 31st December 2025:
1. Vacant commercial and retail properties · The total number of commercial/retail premises recorded as empty, vacant or unoccupied · Where available, please could these figures be broken down by length of vacancy: · Less than 6 months · 6 – 12 months · 12 months – 2 years · More than 2 years
2. Empty property business rates relief · The number of commercial/retail properties receiving empty property business rates relief or exemption at the end of each calendar year
3. Empty property notices notices · The number of empty property notices, enforcement notices, or equivalent action taken in relation to vacant commercial/retail premises
4. Enforcement action relating to derelict buildings · The number of enforcement actions taken in relation to vacant, derelict or poorly maintained commercial/retail premises, including boarding-up/securing works, Section 215 notices and other relevant enforcement notices, where separately recorded
5. Environmental health and anti-social behaviour · Where separately recorded by the council or its relevant ASB team, please share the number of environmental complaints, reports, investigations, interventions or enforcement actions related to derelict buildings and vacant properties.
Response
Please could you provide the following information for areas that fall under Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's authority for the period 1 January 2021 to 31st December 2025:
1. Vacant commercial and retail properties
· The total number of commercial/retail premises recorded as empty, vacant or unoccupied
· Where available, please could these figures be broken down by length of vacancy:
· Less than 6 months
· 6 – 12 months
· 12 months – 2 years
· More than 2 years
Please see attached spreadsheet.
2. Empty property business rates relief
· The number of commercial/retail properties receiving empty property business rates relief or exemption at the end of each calendar year
Please see attached spreadsheet.
3. Empty property notices notices
· The number of empty property notices, enforcement notices, or equivalent action taken in relation to vacant commercial/retail premises
No information held.
4. Enforcement action relating to derelict buildings
· The number of enforcement actions taken in relation to vacant, derelict or poorly maintained commercial/retail premises, including boarding-up/securing works, Section 215 notices and other relevant enforcement notices, where separately recorded
No Section 215 notices have been served within this period (2021-2025).
5. Environmental health and anti-social behaviour
· Where separately recorded by the council or its relevant ASB team, please share the number of environmental complaints, reports, investigations, interventions or enforcement actions related to derelict buildings and vacant properties.
No information held.
Documents
This is Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.