East Riding of Yorkshire Council has stepped up its efforts to bring long term empty properties back into use to benefit those in housing need.
In 2016, the East Riding of Yorkshire contained approximately 145,000 households of which 1,724 were classed as long term empty, meaning they have been empty for six months or more.
While this overall vacancy rate is significantly lower than the vacancy rate for England, the council is committed to tackling the problem of long term empty properties as a way of meeting the housing need of the East Riding and also addressing the adverse impact empty properties can have on local communities.
Positive progress has been made over recent years, including the compulsory purchase of several high profile empty properties. In such cases, the council sells properties on to a willing buyer who must improve them to a good standard of accommodation, helping to meet housing need.
Funding from the subsequent sale is recycled allowing the council to target its enforcement activity on other long term empty homes, of which a further 100 properties are currently being considered for action.
The council also has an active programme to voluntarily purchase empty homes and bring them back into use as affordable housing to rent out to people on the housing register, using funding from the Homes and Communities Agency.
Councillor Symon Fraser, cabinet portfolio holder for asset management, housing and environment, said:
“It is increasingly becoming a struggle to find a decent and affordable house in areas that people want to live.
“Although it is accepted that turnover in the housing market will lead to some homes remaining vacant for a period of time, it is those homes which remain vacant for a longer term that give rise to concern and can become a blight on local communities.
“Bringing long term empty properties back into use can positively contribute to meeting housing needs and can often address issues of nuisance. The council will continue to work with its partners to tackle this problem.”
As well as providing accommodation and improving the appearance of a local area, bringing an empty property back into use provides financial benefits for the local authority through council tax and the Government’s New Homes Bonus scheme. This money helps the council to continue providing valued local services.
