HOMES which were allegedly the haunt of drug-takers, squatters and vandals will be placed under the control of housing chiefs.

Derby City Council has won its fight for compulsory purchase orders to be upheld on six houses, three in Leopold Street and three in Arboretum Square.

It follows a public inquiry in July which heard from the authority's environmental health officers about how the properties had become run-down eyesores.

Workers claimed they had seen men taking drugs, human faeces and discarded syringes in one of them.

Bob Troup, the council's cabinet member for housing and public protection, said the Secretary of State's decision would help the housing shortage in Derby.

He said: "We are delighted that the public inquiry has found in our favour and we will now be progressing the matter quickly to ensure that these properties are dealt with.

"Empty properties can soon fall into disrepair and become a visual blight on the local community, often acting as a magnet for criminal behaviour. The fact that they are uninhabitable is also a travesty in these days of housing shortages."

Council bosses first applied for orders to tackle "unacceptable living conditions" and address "the blight that can be caused by properties left empty and neglected".

Two of houses had been converted into flats, which were still occupied, while the other four were derelict and had been empty for several years.

They lie in the Hartington Street Renewal Area, designated as such in 2002 as the council sought to cut crime, prevent dereliction and boost regeneration.

A public inquiry had to be held because there were six letters of objection against the plans, including one from Mohammed Rashid, who owns two of the Arboretum Square houses.

Inspector Laura Graham, who presided over the hearing, said the decision was in the best interests of the public.

She said: "The possibility that some tenants may become homeless has to be weighed against the very poor standard of accommodation and the qualitative improvements that would flow from the council's proposals, were the order to be confirmed. I consider there to be a compelling case in the public interest for the confirmation of the order."

The properties will be bought for about £800,000 and transferred to a housing association, which will renovate them before letting them out.

Mr Troup said: "Occupied properties subject to negligent management practices and persistent disrepair represent a threat to the health and safety of those living there.

"The public inquiry heard reports of drug-taking and atrocious living conditions for the tenants who were still there as well as the problems that empty properties had on the community.

"We are extremely serious about tackling this issue.

"Although it is always preferable to work with owners on a voluntary basis, we will not hesitate to take robust action where necessary if a voluntary approach is unsuccessful.

"This can range from pressure on owners to properly manage and maintain houses right through to the use of compulsory purchase orders, as in these cases."

The council's empty homes strategy is supported by funding from the Government Office for the East Midlands.