THREE homes in Teesdale have been declared unfit for human habitation.
The owners will now be served with time and place notices, the precursor to closing orders, by Teesdale District Council.
One of the properties, Holwick Head House, near Middleton-in-Teesdale, belongs to the Strathmore Estates and had been empty for some time, the council's community services committee was told.
But Councillor Madeline Walton, who lives nearby, was said she believed the tenant was improving the property but work had been delayed by the foot-and-mouth epidemic.
Council chief executive Charles Anderson said that the order would be served subject to a report to a future meeting clarifying the tenant's situation.
Members also agreed to the placing of similar notices on Pine Tree Cottage, Church Bank, Eggleston and 2 Southside, Butterknowle.
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