Drive to Bring Empty Homes Back into Use

Housing Minister John Healey today announced extra support for Stoke-on-Trent City Council to get empty homes back in use and reduce anti-social behaviour.

Empty homes, particularly those in disrepair, can be a magnet for vandalism, drug-taking, gangs or other forms of anti-social behaviour. Councils already have tough legal powers to force private landlords to sort out their properties and can even take over properties if necessary, but tenants and landlords often don’t know about these powers, reducing their effectiveness.

That’s why Mr Healey is today announcing a £1 million boost to council efforts to train key staff on how best to get empty homes back in use, with cash for 17 councils where anti-social behaviour focused around empty homes is a real concern and residents want to see more effective local action.
Stoke-on-Trent aims to use private funding to enable local people to buy and renovate empty homesthat allow local people the chance to take a more affordable step onto the housing ladder. 

Today’s announcement is part of the new drive to tackle anti-social behaviour announced in November. The drive will equip up to 10,000 front line workers and community champions nationwide with the skills to use tough powers to solve problems in their area.
While many councils and social landlords are already working with the police to tackle anti-social behaviour, Ministers are determined to see more effective co-operation to give the public greater confidence that action is being taken.

Joan said:

"I've been pressing the Government and the council to do more about the high numbers of empty homes in Stoke-on-Trent and have been having detailed discussions with the council about this. It is vital that the legislation the Government has brought in is used locally and there is no excuse for inaction.

"By choosing Stoke-on-Trent as one of the authorities to benefit from this crackdown I'm sure we can look forward to a scheme whereby local people can buy and renovate empty homes. I will be following this issue closely. "

John Healey said:

“Empty houses are both a blight on communities and a waste of much needed homes. Councils already have strong legal powers to force the owners of empty properties to act and if necessary take over homes, but these powers are often neither used or understood properly. I want Councils using every tool available so that people can see action being taken against anti-social behaviour in their area.

“That’s why I’m backing seventeen councils in areas where empty homes have been a magnet for vandalism, threatening behaviour or other types of anti-social activities. They will get training for frontline workers and tenants so they understand how they can use their legal powers. And they will get the cash they need to renovate and re-let empty homes back, reviving run-down areas of their communities.”

This new funding is part of the Government’s drive to take action against empty homes and the anti-social behaviour associated with them. It will give councils the support they need to take real action to address a highly visible problem affecting the quality of people’s day to day lives.