--- title: "Property Owner Finder Service" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-be7738b1-3113-447b-ab40-2f67ed44bab1" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-be7738b1-3113-447b-ab40-2f67ed44bab1" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-be7738b1-3113-447b-ab40-2f67ed44bab1.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-be7738b1-3113-447b-ab40-2f67ed44bab1.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "DORSET COUNCIL" published: "2024-08-19" --- # Property Owner Finder Service Buyer: DORSET COUNCIL Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-b5fd17-be7738b1-3113-447b-ab40-2f67ed44bab1 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-be7738b1-3113-447b-ab40-2f67ed44bab1) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-be7738b1-3113-447b-ab40-2f67ed44bab1.json) ## Summary Dorset Council, located in Dorchester, England, has awarded a contract for the "Property Owner Finder Service" to Estate Research Ltd. This service focuses on tracing owners of long-term empty properties for which the council has ongoing enforcement and compulsory purchase proceedings. Classified under the industry category of real estate services (CPV: 70000000), the procurement method used was an open procedure. The award was announced on 19th August 2024, with the contract commencing on 2nd September 2024 and concluding on 1st September 2026. This tender offers substantial business growth opportunities for companies specializing in tracing services, particularly those experienced with probate research. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are especially well-suited to compete, given the open procedure format and the council's preference for such businesses. The contract not only provides a steady revenue stream but also positions the service provider as a crucial partner to the local government in addressing community challenges related to abandoned properties. Any company with a proven track record in similar services could greatly benefit from this engagement. ## Notice Dorset Council is seeking a supplier to provide owner tracing services, free of charge. There are currently 1300 homes which are long term empty (6 months or more) of which 335 have been empty for 2 years or more (Council Tax data; October 2023). The Housing Standards Team currently has ongoing enforcement action relating to 93 long term empty properties, with four cases currently subject to compulsory purchase proceedings. It is common for the owners of abandoned properties to be absent and their whereabouts unknown or difficult to trace. Dorset Council is seeking a supplier to provide owner tracing services. As part of their business offering, a number of Professional Probate Research companies provide free absent owner tracing services to public authorities. The service provider then offers a discretionary, chargeable service to identified owners or next of kin on a no obligation basis. This chargeable service normally involves resolving issues with the estate, helping with probate and other similar matters. This chargeable service is not part of the Council's involvement. There is also the potential opportunity to undertake focussed investigations of certain empty property groups, including Class F exemption Council Tax cases. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ed186477-deac-478c-9097-8ef173b23468 | | Notice type | Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | SME | | All stages | Tender, Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 19 Aug 2024 | | Submission deadline | 4 Jul 2024 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 18 Aug 2024 | | Contract period | 1 Sep 2024 - 1 Sep 2026 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | £1 | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DORSET COUNCIL | | Locality | DORCHESTER | | Post town | Dorchester | | Postcode | DT1 1XJ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset | | ITL 3 | TLK64 Dorset | | Local authority | Dorset | | Electoral ward | Dorchester West | | Westminster constituency | West Dorset | | Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | ESTATE RESEARCH | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 70 - Real estate services ### Codes - 70000000 - Real estate services ## Release History - 19 Aug 2024 at 07:45 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ed186477-deac-478c-9097-8ef173b23468 - 3 Jun 2024 at 13:01 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b5901db7-c360-4cc2-8f5a-ac71f2366dae ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ed186477-deac-478c-9097-8ef173b23468 19th August 2024 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b5901db7-c360-4cc2-8f5a-ac71f2366dae 3rd June 2024 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder ## Notice URLs - https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-be7738b1-3113-447b-ab40-2f67ed44bab1. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-be7738b1-3113-447b-ab40-2f67ed44bab1.json.