It recognises that, while there are sometimes good reasons why houses are unoccupied there are some that can be vacant for lengthy periods and can cause issues for neighbours.
Councillor Saeed Adan, cabinet member for housing and planning, said: “There are a range of tools that can be used to bring empty properties into use, from financial help for owners, to taking enforcement action.
“However, the first step is to identify properties that have been empty for more than six months and then work with the owners to find the best solution to encourage occupation before taking – – further action, enforcement measures, which can take time and resources.
“Our aim is to increase the availability of homes for local people in the city and targeting empty properties is one way of helping to achieve that.”
The total number of properties in the city is around 70,300 and 1207 have been empty for more than a year (1.7 per cent).
Measures used by the council to turn empty houses into homes again include:
- Financial assistance through the Safe Warm and Secure scheme which provides interest-free loans for housing improvements.
- Empty dwelling management orders enabling the council to take over the management of the property and bring it back into use.
- Enforced sale – – provides councils with the authority to sell properties to recoup unpaid debts, for instance where the owner has failed to undertake necessary works.
- Statutory action/notices when an owner fails to maintain their property and its condition adversely affects the amenity of the area.
- Compulsory purchase orders that give the council the authority to purchase and subsequently sell an empty property for the purpose of providing housing accommodation or related facilities.
There is a track record of successful use of these measures. For instance, a Safe Warm and Secure loan was used to renovate a long-term empty four-bedroom property which is now an occupied home with the loan fully repaid in last year.
Following discussions with the empty homes team, a former social housing flat that had been purchased under the right-to-buy scheme is now providing long-term accommodation for a homeless household thanks to Leasing Scheme Wales, administered by the council.
A three-bedroom house, empty for three years, was occupied after the team was able to give advice to the owner on a VAT reduction that is available if a long-term vacant property is returned to residential use.
