Empty Homes Action Plan
1. Good quality empty property information which is easy to maintain and accessible to all relevant services
Actions | Lead | Timescales |
---|---|---|
Develop temporary caseload management system | Empty Property Officer | April 2021 |
Upgrade Civica to capture empty property information | Empty Property Officer/CPU Manager | June 2021 |
Develop joint working empty property protocols across SHAD / CPU | Empty Property Officer/CPU Manager | June 2021 |
2. Members of the public can report / share information about empty properties
Actions | Lead | Timescales |
---|---|---|
Map customer reporting journey | Empty Property Officer | March 2021 |
Develop a single point of contact via council website (online form) | Private Sector Housing Coordinator | April 2021 |
Provide updated website information | Private Sector Housing Coordinator | March 2021 |
Set up dedicated inbox to deal with enquiries | Private Sector Housing Coordinator | February 2021 |
Establish links with electronic (Flare) system | Empty Property Officer | April 2021 |
3. The most problematic empty properties are prioritised
Actions | Lead | Timescales |
---|---|---|
Review intelligence (twice annually) | Empty Property Officer | May/November 2021 |
Develop rationale and a plan for prioritising resources | Empty Property Officer | April 2021 |
4. Landlords and owners are encouraged and supported to bring their properties back into use
Actions | Lead | Timescales |
---|---|---|
Review and improve website information | Empty Property Officer | April 2021 |
Update the Council’s Private Sector Assistance Policy (align with toolkit) | Empty Property Officer | March 2021 |
Develop a communications plan which includes targeted contact with empty property owners, members of the public and promotion of successful initiatives | Private Sector Housing Coordinator | June 2021 |
Explore the benefits of a probate researcher to assist in identifying long term empty property owners | Empty Property Officer | June 2021 |
5. A toolkit is available to ensure landlords and owners can access the right support
Actions | Lead | Timescales |
---|---|---|
Publish online toolkit (information, loans, sales advice, investment and refurbishment, funding) | Empty Property Officer | September 2021 |
Further develop online toolkit options (external funding opportunities, community led housing, leasing, partner opportunities) | Private Sector Housing Coordinator | December 2021 |
6. Enforcement action is taken whenever appropriate
Actions | Lead | Timescales |
---|---|---|
Maintaining property records to ensure the right evidence is collected to support future enforcement action | Empty Property Officer | April 2021 - Ongoing |
Protocols / procedures in place | Empty Property Officer | June 2021 |
Develop and agree joint working protocols around enforcement actions (roles, responsibilities and information required for using Enforced sale, EDMO’s, CPO, etc.) | Empty Property Officer | June 2021 |
Promote positive enforcement action in communities (feeding back to the public) | Empty Property Officer | June 2021 - Ongoing |
7. Outcomes are measured and positive intervention communicated
Actions | Lead | Timescales |
---|---|---|
Report on progress twice annually (in line with Housing Strategy update) | Empty Property Officer | TBC |
Carry out a wider social cost / benefit analysis of an empty property | Empty Property Officer | December 2021 |
Monitor trends (local / national) and benchmarking in order to learn from others | Empty Property Officer | January 2022 |