Agenda item

To consider a report regarding the draft Empty Homes Strategy which is currently being consulted upon. The report outlines the main aims and objectives of the strategy and highlights ways the Council may seek to utilise to tackle empty homes in the Borough.

The Committee considered a report regarding the Draft Empty Homes Strategy which was being consulted upon. The report outlined the main aims and objectives of the strategy and highlighted ways the Council may seek to utilise to tackle empty homes in the Borough.

700 homes in the Borough had been empty for more than six months and the strategy would address this problem and encourage bringing these properties back into use. There were problems getting some property owners to cooperate and time and effort were required to identify the owners of some properties. There would be more investment, with Compulsory Purchase Order funding coming from the Council. The majority of empty properties were within the town centre, Wolstanton and Cross Heath. There were initiatives in Wolstanton to address the empty home problem.

Members questioned whether the majority of empty homes within the Borough were privately owned, and Officers confirmed that this was the case with approximately 80% being privately owned. The remainder were social housing. Officers considered it probable that most of these would be Aspire properties and most of them would have been vacant for less than six months. It was questioned whether there was a risk that money would be wasted by moving forward with enforcement action and then being unable to claw money back. There were safeguards in place such as tribunals to recoup money and the sale of a property would bring a return on investment, although the Council would have to spend money first. There was concern amongst Members regarding finances and what steps the Council would take to recoup its investment. For example a property could have been empty for a significant amount of time, leading to structural problems that the Council would have to correct. With the property market being flat, there could be a big bill for the Council if caution was not taken. There were numerous tactics the Council could employ to encourage owners to improve their empty properties and it was expected that only a small number of cases would result in Compulsory Purchase Orders. As part of the strategy, where significant financial resources were required or compulsory purchase/enforced sale were recommended by Officers, the case would be reported to the Public Protection Committee or the Portfolio Holder for authorisation.

Members questioned how many long term empty properties had problematic ownership and whether it was a major problem. Officers confirmed that the numbers for problematic ownership were small. Officers were questioned regarding how many of the properties that had been empty for more than two years they would consider taking action on. Only one property had been subject to a Compulsory Purchase Order and for the majority the prospect of a CPO was sufficient. Eighty properties each year were being brought back into use without a CPO, and if there was to be a CPO it would need to be considered by the Public Protection Committee first.

Members questioned the differences between the old strategy and the new strategy. The old strategy was based much more upon voluntary action whereas the new strategy would enable Officers to use the powers available to them. Members questioned whether housing associations or private landlords had been approached to buy empty properties as there were derelict properties in the area that people were willing to take on. It needed to be ascertained why people were keeping certain properties on, for example properties bought by parents for students that were kept on after the student had left university. Officers asked for Members views to be submitted to them before November.

The Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Town Centres Development asked the Committee whether the Cabinet should investigate the council tax situation for empty properties. The Committee agreed that there should be a suggestion to Cabinet that this be considered.

RESOLVED:                        That the information be received.