WYCHAVON is urging residents to report any empty homes in the area as it recently pledged to invest in bringing them back into use during its budget approval last week.
Currently, nearly 2,500 homes are unoccupied in the district, including in Droitwich, Evesham and Pershore. This means one in every 26 homes is not in use.
In support of National Empty Homes Week, Wychavon is encouraging residents to help identify neglected houses to maximise housing availability in the district.
Variety of unoccupied properties
Empty homes include long-term empty, exempted empty, not yet ‘long-term’ empty, second homes and holiday lets. Residents living near empty, poorly maintained properties can face issues such as vermin, fly-tipping, burglary, drug use, and anti-social behaviour.
Moreover, neglected homes can harm and devalue neighbouring properties. The council has strict policies on empty homes, keeping discounts and reductions on council tax for second homes or empty properties to a minimum.
If a property is unoccupied, a 100 per cent discount applies for only one month from the property being empty and unfurnished, after which a 100 per cent charge will apply.
Newly built, unoccupied and unfurnished, properties will receive a 100 per cent discount for 3 months. After which they will be liable for a full charge.
Where a property has been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished or empty for more than two years you will now be liable to pay 200 per cent. Certain exemptions can be obtained for extraneous circumstances resulting in properties being unoccupied.
‘Significant pressure on councils’
Councillor Rick Deller, the Executive Board Member for Housing, Regulatory and Customer Services, said, “Across the country, the lack of affordable housing has put significant pressure on local authorities, and Wychavon is no exception.”
“The council’s housing team works extremely hard to help those in need, but demand consistently outweighs supply.”
Wychavon recently contacted the owner of an empty property that had been deserted for fourteen years. The owner had a strong emotional attachment to the house, making it difficult to let go.
However, the property’s condition affected neighbouring homes by causing damp issues. Wychavon initiated discussions that ultimately led to the successful sale and renovation of the property, preparing it for future tenants.
Wychavon can provide free advice and guidance to owners of empty properties, and the local authority encourages them to consider options such as renting or selling.
Visit https://www.wychavon.gov.uk/housing/empty-homes to report empty homes.
Visit https://www.actiononemptyhomes.org/facts-and-figures and https://www.wychavon.gov.uk/council-tax/discounts-and-exemptions for more information.
- WHAT do you think should be done to bring unoccupied homes back into use? What do you think should be done to ease the housing crisis in Droitwich and Wychavon? Email us with your views to [email protected]
