Launch of ‘Empty Homes Strategy’ aims to address lack of affordable housing and rising homelessness
Westmorland and Furness Council has confirmed plans to bring 10% of unoccupied properties into affordable use annually over the next five years.
Council figures show that approximately 2,358 properties are ‘long-term empty’, meaning they have been out of use for at least six months, with more than 900 located in the Furness area.
The cabinet’s first ‘Empty Homes Strategy’ report said that dwellings can be left unoccupied for various reasons, including lengthy buying and selling processes or the death of an owner. These become “nuisance” empty properties if they remain untenanted for significant periods of time or attract unwanted attention such as vandalism.
Using a council investment of £460,000, the strategy will identify vacant residences and offer assistance and advice to owners on how to bring them back into use.
In extreme cases, the local authority plans to employ procedures for enforced sales, compulsory purchase orders and empty dwelling management orders, due to be established in December.
Homes pinpointed in the scheme will be scored against a set of criteria, including length of vacancy, housing need in the area and general condition of the property. Those that score highly will be prioritised for use.
>> See also: Scottish Empty Homes Partnership brings record number of homes back into use
>> See also: Councils given new powers to tax empty homes
In February 2024, the local government agreed to a 100% council tax premium on properties that have been empty and substantially unfurnished for between one and five years.
This premium increases to 200% for vacancies between five to 10 years and 300% for more than 10 years.
Councillor Judith Derbyshire, cabinet member for housing and community safety at Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “By having an Empty Homes Strategy and a clear programme of actions and interventions, we can improve neighbourhoods and create better environments for local communities, reduce vandalism and anti-social behaviour, improve the health and wellbeing of communities and individuals and help meet housing need by providing additional housing options for the local community.
“Homes are left empty for a wide variety of reasons, and plans to bring properties back into use need to be tailored to each circumstance.
”This strategy agreed today will play a key role in addressing housing shortages, revitalising communities and recognising there is no one simple solution to the problem of empty homes and outlines a range of options to bring properties back into use.
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