Nottingham City Council is urging the owners of vacant pubs to co-operate with them in making early decisions about their future use.
The council has reported increasing problems with empty licensed premises across the city, which have been closed by breweries or owners.
The council's public health team received numerous complaints from residents concerned about the condition of properties and the impact they're having on neighbourhoods. Problems include insecure premises, allowing access into a potentially unsafe environment, fly-tipping, vandalism and arson.
The fire brigade has had to attend some pubs on a number of occasions to extinguish fires, and in one case to rescue a person trapped in a property.
The council is concerned that most of the owners are not based in Nottingham and do not fully appreciate the problems caused by empty buildings.
Councillor Brian Grocock, portfolio holder for Environment, Transport & Street Scene, said: "Although I can accept that there may be sound economic reasons why a brewery chooses to close a pub, they must accept their responsibilities to ensure that these properties do not cause a problem to residents whilst they are standing empty.
"It should not be left to the city council to ask them to undertake works. Surely it does not make economic sense to constantly have to spend money on clearing up and repairing premises."
He continued: "It is the council's belief, that the only satisfactory way of preventing this problem is either the re-occupation of the property or, if it is not proposed to reuse it, its early demolition."