Empty Homes Plan

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