Which buildings go on the map
CADO maps buildings that have been empty or neglected for a long time, that feel important to the people who live around them, and that seem stuck. This page explains what we include, what we don’t, and how we decide.
What we mean by “delinquent ownership”
We use the phrase “delinquent ownership” to describe a situation, not a person. It means a building of local importance has been left empty or neglected for a long time.
There are many reasons this happens: probate, disputed ownership, insolvency, money problems, planning or legal obstacles, or simply nobody acting. Putting a building on the map doesn’t mean we think its owner has done anything wrong.
The four tests
We ask people to put a building on the map when:
It is empty or mostly unused. This can also include a building that is only partly used, such as a shop with many empty floors above it. However, we don’t include homes.
It has been that way for a long time. We treat three years as the cut-off, although it can be less if the building is clearly derelict. The key is that it’s not just a short-lived phase in between active uses.
It matters to people locally. This can mean the building had value to the community in the past, or could do so in the future. It might be a local landmark, or have heritage value, or it might just be a key feature on the local high street.
It seems stuck. There might be little sign of active repair or refurbishment. We don’t count a long-delayed planning process as a sign of action - such processes can drag on for years while a building falls into disrepair.
What we don’t include
Homes people live in, including homes that are partly empty or in poor repair.
Buildings that are being actively used, even if they look run down.
Personal disputes. Please don’t submit a building because of a disagreement with its owner, a landlord or a neighbour.
Buildings you simply dislike, or planning decisions you disagree with.
Buildings that closed recently. If the building has been empty for less than three years, we might keep your submission and check in again later.
If the state of a building seems to present an immediate danger, report it to the local council. In an emergency, call 999.
What an entry on the map shows
the building’s name and location (sometimes approximate, to protect privacy)
what kind of building it is
its condition
roughly how long it has been empty, as reported to us
why it matters locally
the type of owner, such as “company” or “council”
photos
the date we last checked the entry
We do not publish the names of owners, whether a person, a company or a public body. We only show the type of owner. We do not publish the name or contact details of the person who told us about the building, unless they ask us to (for example, if someone is running a local ‘save this building’ campaign that they want to share with others).
How we decide
Information on the map is submitted by the public - if you spot any errors, please let us know. For due diligence, the CADO team reviews every submission against the four tests above and to check if there are any signs that the submission is unreliable. We may edit wording, ask for more information, hold a submission while we check it, or even decide not to publish.
We make proportionate checks, but we can’t verify every detail. An entry on the map shows that a local person was sufficiently concerned about a building to add it. It doesn’t establish why the building is in that condition, who is responsible, or whether anyone has acted unlawfully.
We plan to review entries at least once a year to correct any obvious changes. However, the best way to keep the map accurate is to tell us if you spot any information that needs to be updated.
Please stay safe and within the law
CADO does not encourage anyone to enter, occupy or damage a building. We will also take care not to publish submissions that suggest someone has obtained information or photos unlawfully. Take photos only from a public place and stay safe as you do so.
If you own a building, or something is wrong
If you own or are connected with a building on the map, or think an entry is inaccurate or unfair, or if you have new information, use “Suggest an update” on the entry or email cado@kinship.works.
We’ll look at any significant concerns as soon as possible, and within five working days, and we might hide the entry while we check.
Last updated: 2 November 2026.