Govt. Acts on Empty Homes

Easing the pressure on families who have inadequate housing should be a primary focus for any Government.  Those who are fortunate to be able to close the front door of their own home at the end of the day cannot be too grateful for this privilege.  Helping more families to be able to do this is a key objective for any society.

At a time when house building is bumping along the bottom in terms of new home starts the Government has increased its initiative to energise local councils into refurbishing and bringing back into use empty homes.

In the UK there are more than 700,000 empty homes, over 280,000 of which have been unused and under-maintained for six months or more.  Empty homes that can often attract anti-social behaviour, vandalism and fly-tipping to neighbourhoods and depress the values of other homes in the area.

Communities Minister Andrew Stunell offered £50 million Government funding to areas with clusters of empty homes which have good market prospects, such as access to transport links, but require intensive refurbishment to return them to a liveable standard.  Administered by the Homes and Communities Agency, councils who wish to apply will have to match the funding they receive - bringing the total investment to £100 million. Every successful bid must have strong local support and aim to bring at least 100 homes back into use.  Mr Stunell said:

"It's shocking that hundreds of thousands of houses sit unoccupied while people across the country are in need of a home of their own”.

Councils will also be rewarded by the application of the New homes Bonus scheme measuring the total number of long term empty properties. 

Empty Homes to Benefit the Homeless

The forthcoming Christmas period and its attendant celebrations will once again highlight the needs of those who do not have the security of their own roof over their heads.  The plight of those who are homeless or sharing accommodation that is unsuitable for their needs will undoubtedly be brought to light.

Communities Minister Andrew Stunell has said that that it was a top Government priority to bring empty properties across the country back into use, and ensure these are available for people in need of a new home.

Mr Stunell said:

"The number of empty homes in this country is a national scandal. There is a clear and pressing need for new homes in this country, yet for every two families that need a home there is one standing empty”.

The recent Housing Strategy included an additional £50 million to help areas with the worst concentrations of empty properties, whilst the Coalition is also consulting on giving councils the power to charge an Empty Homes Premium - worth up to 50 per cent of council tax - on properties that have been left vacant for more than two years.

Housing Minister, Grant Shapps (@grantshapps) has Tweeted his concerns for the homeless and the actions that can be taken to help address this situation and the returning of empty property onto the housing stock can only be a move in the right direction.

Councils, housing associations and voluntary groups can apply for a share of £100 million Government funding to help bring more empty homes back into use.  Latest figures show that over the past year the numbers of long-term empty homes has fallen by over 21,000 - the biggest year-on-year drop since 2004.  Last year, councils delivered 159,000 properties - both newly built homes and empty homes brought back into use.