Blogs

March/April 2020

I’m sitting here at my laptop in our spare room as my husband and myself are currently ‘self-isolating’ for the 14 days and like the majority of you, I’m working from home.

But after a few days of trying to get settled on what best to do, work-wise, I have come up with a few positives to motivate me.

"Homebuilding may be at a 30-year high, but experts say a rise in the number of long-term empty properties shows the wrong kind of housing is being built."

The Hackney Gazette reports on the Action on Empty Homes and the latest Government data. Hackney has seen a 24% rise ion the last year with 1 in 100 homes now empty.

Action on Empty Hones Campaigns manager Chris Bailey says:

"There is speculation unsold newbuilds are contributing, alongside a general slowing of the housing market lowering transactions.

I am finally emerging from the major transformation our council has been going (and is still going) through. I feel like a butterfly coming out of its chrysalis! Although our new roles don’t begin till January 2020, I understand that I will be continuing empty homes work but under the job title of Case Management instead of Empty Homes Officer. Phew!

"General Election 2019: Lib Dems pledge 500% council tax rise for people who keep houses empty

Landlords and property owners who fuel the housing crisis by keeping property empty should pay for the damage they are causing society, ex-Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has said.

Unveiling plans that would let local authorities raise council tax on houses left empty long term by 500%, the Liberal Democrats said empty homes were “tearing apart” communities across the country."

The GMB Union London Region has decided to make empty homes a campaigning issue. The story begins here:

"The incredible number of empty homes in each London borough and staggering housing waiting lists

In some boroughs, vacant homes could fill more than 40 percent of people waiting for homes

It doesn't take a lot to see the signs of London's housing crisis. Just one glance at the window of an estate agent is enough.

Anyone who has tried to get accommodation for themselves or their families in London knows what an abject nightmare it can be.

New Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government data[i] released today shows 226,000 long-term empty homes, with a year on year rise of 10,000.

This is the third consecutive year in which figures have risen and the second year in a row to see a 10,000 home rise in numbers of wasted long-term empty homes.

An inquiry by the National Assembly’s Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee has examined the impact of empty properties on communities and how local authorities can act to tackle a complex problem which requires dedicated resources and expertise.

In its report, the Committee is calling on the Welsh Government to work closely with local authorities to develop a national action plan for tackling empty properties which sets priorities, objectives and targets for implementation.

It’s already Friday but I’m still thinking about Wednesday’s first Empty Homes Network conference with Adam Cliff at the helm.  Great programme by the way, Adam. 

As we’ve come to expect over the years with David Gibbens organising, one of the reasons the conference is always so well attended is the programme.  It has to include subjects that empty homes officers are interested in and want to learn more about.  For example new schemes that have been trialled, community work, partnership working, enforcement and updates from Action on Empty Homes.

https://www.actiononemptyhomes.org/news/empty-homes-england-2019-is-available-now

Highlights and key issues:

The general picture

1. 2018 saw confirmation that empty homes numbers are rising significantly.

The rise of 5.3%, nearly 11,000 additional long-term empty homes, was double the rise in 2017.