Checking vacant properties in Geldrop-Mierlo, Son en Breugel and Nuenen

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It is estimated that 1 in 200 vacant premises in the Netherlands is used for criminal activities. A vacant building is often an ideal place to develop illegal activities. Think of hemp plantations, drug labs, money laundering or illegal storage locations. 

Preventive checks

To gain insight into the use of vacant properties with residential zoning, supervisors of the Dommelvallei municipalities carried out inspections this week. Premises with a residential zoning which, according to the Basic Registration of PersonsBRP), have not been inhabited for more than a year, were visited preventively. The purpose of the visit was to check whether the data in the BRP correspond to reality and, in addition, to gain insight into what is happening in a vacant property.

Results audit

In both Son en Breugel and Nuenen about 20 addresses were visited, in Geldrop-Mierlo about 40. Some of the results: 

  • several addresses were found to be vacant due to sale, remodeling, relocation and/or death; 
  • several addresses were found to be in use for housing migrant workers, some in violation of the zoning plan;
  • inaccurate entries in the Basic Registration of Persons were identified at some properties;
  • a number of sites were found to be used for business purposes and thus in conflict with residential zoning;  
  • multiple addresses are still being researched in more detail, which may require updating basic records. 

Enforcement action will be taken against identified violations in the coming period. If necessary, administrative measures will be taken.

In the future, we will continue to repeat these types of checks and also scrutinize new locations.

Cooperation Dommelvallei municipalities

The inspection visits took place on Tuesday, March 23 (Geldrop-Mierlo), Wednesday, March 24 (Geldrop-Mierlo & Son en Breugel) and Thursday, March 25 (Nuenen). They were conducted by a team of supervisors consisting of a building inspector, special investigating officer (boa), supervisor BRP and a project manager. 

Working data-driven

The list of vacant properties in a municipality was created based on data analysis. It fits within the ambition of the Dommelvallei organizations to work more data-driven. Data-driven work ensures that municipalities can deploy capacity in a more targeted way and better adapt their policies accordingly.