Hi Alex

I am not offering myself as a great expert here but I think it comes back to first principles and you can use the same tools that you would use in relation to any private sector owner ie

EDMO

CPO

(or the threats thereof).

However, with RSLs you do have the further tools of strategic influence - they are supposed to be your partners, do they want further support for there investment etc etc? Trying to get the issue taken up at a more senior level has helped us in the past (not specifically around empty properties though).

Finally - RSLs are regulated so if you feel they are misusing their assets you could draw it to the attention of regulators. But I would make some general enquiries of the Housing Corporation first and then threaten the RSL before actually registering a complaint (as partnership needs to work in both directions). There are specific bits of advice that govern how RSLs should work with local authorities including a recently published (April 2008) Good Practice Note. I will put the item up in the Information Library when I have located it. I think you're Corporate Members so you should get notified of it and have access (I'll check your Notification status too just to be sure).

David Gibbens