Carmarthenshire action on empty homes
Plans to bring some 2,000 empty homes in Carmarthenshire back into use have been approved by Carmarthenshire County Council.
Carmarthenshire Housing Services has drawn up an Empty Property Action Plan for 2010-2012 to tackle the issue. It was discussed at last week’s meeting of the full county council.
The first Empty Property Strategy was launched in 2005 to tackle the problem and has resulted in 150 properties being brought back into use as a result of direct action by the council.
A survey of empty property owners has provided information to help shape future plans to deal with empty properties. It showed that two thirds of owners do not have outstanding loans or mortgages on the properties; that three quarters have some concerns about the properties being left empty, and around a third indicated that the properties were in a reasonable condition.
A revised action plan has been developed to provide support, advice and awareness raising for empty property owners, help owners to decide on options for reuse, including social lets, sales or private renting, consider ways of providing or helping to access financial assistance, and consider ways of preventing long-term empty council properties.
The emphasis will be to work with owners to provide support and encouragement. However, the action plan also recognises that in some instances enforcement action may be the only option.
The action plan proposes the development of key areas including
improved record keeping, support, advice and awareness raising, and financial assistance.
Head of housing Robin Staines said: “There are around 2,000 long term empty homes in Carmarthenshire. These are not only a wasted resource in terms of providing potential housing need, but they can also have a detrimental effect on communities.
“We are the only Welsh local authority actively using compulsory purchase as a means of addressing empty properties.
“We have addressed some problems of empty council-owned properties, and identified some long term empty council properties suitable for demolition or sale through our Asset Management Strategy.
”While this has been very positive work, and a good start, empty properties continue to be a challenge in the area, and further work is still needed to tackle the problems faced.”
Executive board member for housing and public protection Cllr Hugh Evans said: “Empty properties have long been a blight on our communities and the sooner we can get them sorted the better.
”This Action Plan provides a business approach to bringing back them into use and is in line with our Housing Strategy.”
Carmarthenshire Housing Services has drawn up an Empty Property Action Plan for 2010-2012 to tackle the issue. It was discussed at last week’s meeting of the full county council.
The first Empty Property Strategy was launched in 2005 to tackle the problem and has resulted in 150 properties being brought back into use as a result of direct action by the council.
A survey of empty property owners has provided information to help shape future plans to deal with empty properties. It showed that two thirds of owners do not have outstanding loans or mortgages on the properties; that three quarters have some concerns about the properties being left empty, and around a third indicated that the properties were in a reasonable condition.
A revised action plan has been developed to provide support, advice and awareness raising for empty property owners, help owners to decide on options for reuse, including social lets, sales or private renting, consider ways of providing or helping to access financial assistance, and consider ways of preventing long-term empty council properties.
The emphasis will be to work with owners to provide support and encouragement. However, the action plan also recognises that in some instances enforcement action may be the only option.
The action plan proposes the development of key areas including
improved record keeping, support, advice and awareness raising, and financial assistance.
Head of housing Robin Staines said: “There are around 2,000 long term empty homes in Carmarthenshire. These are not only a wasted resource in terms of providing potential housing need, but they can also have a detrimental effect on communities.
“We are the only Welsh local authority actively using compulsory purchase as a means of addressing empty properties.
“We have addressed some problems of empty council-owned properties, and identified some long term empty council properties suitable for demolition or sale through our Asset Management Strategy.
”While this has been very positive work, and a good start, empty properties continue to be a challenge in the area, and further work is still needed to tackle the problems faced.”
Executive board member for housing and public protection Cllr Hugh Evans said: “Empty properties have long been a blight on our communities and the sooner we can get them sorted the better.
”This Action Plan provides a business approach to bringing back them into use and is in line with our Housing Strategy.”
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