Press Release from Herefordshire Council:
A new drive to bring empty properties across the county back into use is is well underway – helping tackle the need for more housing, and the impact empty homes can have on local communities.
We have helped bring more than 110 empty homes back into use in the past two years, working with owners to provide advice and support on repairs, renovations, and in some cases financial support.
This year the national Empty Homes Week campaign, running from 9 – 15 March, will highlight one million such properties that are currently unoccupied across England, further adding to the housing shortage, including millions of people seeking affordable accommodation.
Our Empty Properties service works with property owners and residents to address all sides of the issue. Empty housing can contribute to anti-social behaviour, declining property values, and environmental deterioration – all major concerns for local people.
The Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Carole Gandy, said:
“Bringing these homes back into use every year makes neighbourhoods better, and means more housing is available for local people. We’re working hard to encourage owners to maintain them well and ideally make them available for living again.
“Please do contact us to discuss options and for support if you have a house that’s not occupied, and you want to do something about it. We have a range of support available, but where these houses cause real issues in the community, we can take enforcement action too.”
There are an estimated 1,800+ residential properties currently empty in the county. For all of those properties we charge a Council Tax premium to encourage owners to bring them back into use, ranging from a 100% council tax premium through to 300% – which is on top of their annual charge.
The Council aims to work collaboratively with owners, but can take enforcement action when needed, such as serving improvement or hazard notices, issuing civil penalties, enforcing council tax premiums, or in serious cases pursuing compulsory purchase orders.
There is more information on Empty Homes and how to contact the team on our website or you can contact the Empty Homes team by email – housingdevelopment@herefordshire.gov.uk
