The borough council is putting more effort into filling empty homes More money and staff have been put into bringing empty homes in the borough back into use. Members of the audit committee, who were critical of the council s efforts a year ago, were told things have improved after the housing team was challenged to do more. In the wake of a January 2020 report which highlighted serious shortcomings, head of housing Mike Ash was tasked with making a business case to cabinet member for housing Cathy Martyn to put more resources into solving the problem. The committe heard more more money has been found to pay for half of a full-time officer dedicated to getting houses back into use.
It is estimated there are roughly 400 long-term empty houses within the council s boundaries. Meanwhile, there are more than 6,000 people looking for a suitable home on Dorset Council s housing register. Against this backdrop, Dorset Council has been taking part in Empty Homes Week – an initiative launched to help offset the current national housing shortage. Councillor Graham Carr-Jones, Dorset Council portfolio holder for housing and community safety, said: “The council is now taking a wide range of action to bring long-term empty homes back into use. “We need more housing for Dorset and empty homes can play a key part in helping us achieve that.
Lichfield Live Open Search
Share this:
An initiative is hoping to connect owners of derelict properties with community groups in Lichfield and Burntwood to help get homes back into use.
Picture: Elliott Brown
The local authority said there were around 120 long-term empty properties across the district.
As part of Empty Homes Week, the council is urging anyone who is struggling with an empty property and needs help to bring it back into use, or anyone who is concerned about an empty property in their area, to get in touch for advice.
Angela Lax
Cllr Angela Lax, cabinet member responsible for housing, said:
Cllr Eleanor Southwood, Brent Council
Published:
9:00 AM February 15, 2021
National Empty Homes Week is taking place between February 15 and 21.
- Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Properties standing empty in our borough are a blight on the local area, attracting anti-social behaviour, illegal dumping of rubbish and vermin. Worse still, they represent fewer homes for families in Brent.
That’s why reducing the number of empty properties in Brent is a priority. National Empty Homes Week is from February 15 to 21 and I want to take the opportunity to share what Brent’s Labour-run council has achieved and remind you what you can do to help.