Issue - meetings

Recommendation from the meeting of Cabinet Housing Panel on 26 January 2023 on the Empty Homes Policy.

(1)   That members recommend approving the draft Empty Homes Policy to go out to public consultation.

(2)   That the draft Empty Homes Policy will be presented again to Cabinet Housing Panel for consideration following the public consultation.

Recommendation from the meeting of Cabinet Housing Panel on 26 January 2023 on the Empty Homes Policy.

The report proposes the introduction of a policy to outline how the council will deal with empty homes and has been presented to the Cabinet Housing Panel on 26 January 2023. It recommends the draft policy with a view to a undertaking a public consultation on the draft policy. Although not a legal requirement to do so, it would be good practice.

The Empty Homes Policy only relates to privately owned or privately rented homes and not social or council housing

There has not been a particular need in the past for an Empty Homes Policy as it was not considered necessary, but the council are seeing an increase in the number of empty properties and should have a policy in place if we need to utilise certain enforcement powers; such as Empty Dwelling Management Orders.

As detailed in the report, as of December 2022 there were 961 empty properties in the borough; one third of which are second homes. Over 100 of these have been empty for two years or more, and this is an increase of 20 properties since July.

Empty properties are considered nationally as a wasted housing resource and can lead to issues with antisocial behaviour and detriment to the visual amenity of the neighbourhood. In the vast majority of cases, we work with owners to try to bring empty homes back into use by negotiation and may only need to resort to formal action in a small number of cases where the properties are of concern.

If approved by cabinet, a public consultation will be undertaken for one month. The consultation will be advertised via the council’s website, using social media and through the Partnership Accreditation Scheme (PAL) scheme. The consultation responses will be online, but officers will ensure that residents can request a hard copy of the consultation to complete and return if needed.

Once the consultation is concluded, officers will bring a report back to the Cabinet Housing Panel on the consultation feedback, with any recommendations.

RESOLVED:

(unanimous)

(1)  That members recommend approving the draft Empty Homes Policy to go out to public consultation.

(2)  That the draft Empty Homes Policy will be presented again to Cabinet Housing Panel for consideration following the public consultation.