Long-neglected buildings are a familiar sight across Northern Ireland. The problem worsened after the 2008 financial crash, when many sites were mothballed, and last week’s collapse of a two-storey building in Belfast highlighted the risks. This article explains how new legislation aims to help councils tackle unsafe and neglected properties.

The Dilapidation Act is designed to give district councils standardised, modern powers to tackle run-down, vacant, and dangerous buildings and neglected sites.  Approved by the NI Assembly on 8 September 2026, it is expected to receive Royal Assent in October

The Act will enable local councils to serve notices to landowners in attempt to fix the issue of town centres becoming eyesores or dangerous due to dilapidated buildings. It is to be focused on buildings in urban areas rather than standalone buildings in the countryside.

Councils will have four main tools. A maintenance notice can require action to tidy up neglected property; a dilapidation notice can require repairs or demolition where disrepair is serious; a dangerous structure notice can require urgent work or demolition and restrict use until the building is safe; and a defective premises notice allows the council to tackle premises that harm health or cause a nuisance. Recipients can appeal—generally within 28 days, or 14 days for dangerous structure notices—but if they do not comply, the council can step in, recover its reasonable costs and, in some cases, prosecute demolition carried out without written permission. Councils may also act in an emergency after assessing the risk and, where reasonably practicable, notifying those affected.”

The Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Rural Affairs minister, Andrew Muir, described the bill as ‘marking a potentially transformative moment for our neighbourhoods as we enhance the abilities of councils to tackle dilapidation wherever it occurs. It is now up to councils to drive change in their communities and utilise their powers on the ground.’

From a property owner’s perspective, the Bill may make passive holding of dilapidated assets riskier. Owners, lenders, insolvency officeholders, developers and managing agents will need to factor potential council intervention into asset management, acquisition due diligence and funding decisions. Purchasers of vacant or distressed property may increasingly want to understand whether any informal council engagement, complaints, notices or likely enforcement risk exists before completion. In some cases, the prospect of statutory charges for unpaid council costs may also become a relevant title and pricing consideration.

For any specific queries on the application of the Act, please get in touch with one of our dedicated property specialists.