Empty Homes in the District

There is a surprisingly large number of empty properties in the district. "Empty properties" can be defined as privately-owned properties that are wholly unoccupied and have no realistic prospect of occupation in the near future.

Empty homes represent a wasted resource in this period of housing shortage, especially in light of current/proposed new housing developments constructed to cope with high demand in the district.

Other problems associated with empty homes include:

• Falling into disrepair and becoming an eyesore.
  
• Devaluing neighbouring properties by up to 18%.
  
• Attracting crime and anti-social behaviour e.g. vandalism, fly tipping, graffiti and unauthorised access.
• Creating financial expense for the owners: up to £8000 per year (including insurance costs, maintenance and potential rent loss).

Bringing an empty home back into use will:

• Reduce the pressure to build on Greenfield land.
  
• Help to meet the current housing demand.
  
• Improve the character and desirability of the neighbourhood.

What is the Council doing to tackle Empty Homes?

Stratford-on-Avon District Council is committed to reducing the number of empty properties in the area by use the following methods:

1. Raising awareness of the problems associated with empty homes and the benefits of bringing them back into use.
   
2. A dedicated Empty Homes Officer to identify, advise and liaise with owners of empty homes in the district with a view to ultimately bringing the property back into use.
   
3. An Empty Homes Strategy (currently under development; available later this year).
   
4. 100% Council Tax charge for properties unoccupied for 6 months and longer.
   
5. A discretionary Empty Homes Assistance Grant to help owners to bring their empty properties back up to a decent standard in return for 2 years' minimum nomination rights from the Council.
   
6. Enforcement measures for when all other attempts at working with owners have been unsuccessful.

How can I help?

If you would like to report an empty property to the Council, please contact the Empty Homes Officer on the details at the bottom of the page.

Useful information to report includes:

1. The address of the empty property.
   
2. Details of ownership (if known).
   
3. Problems associated with the empty property (e.g. accumulation of rubbish/damp/dangerous structures/eyesore factor/graffiti/pest infestation/squatting/unauthorised access/vandalism).

I am the owner of an empty property. What can I do?

There are many options available to you including the following:

• Renovation and/or conversion of the property in order to bring up to a decent standard and make best use of the space. The Empty Homes Assistance Grant may be available for this.
  
• Re-occupation of the property by you, family or friends.
  
• Letting the property: to private tenants; through the Council's Rent Express Scheme; through a Letting Agent.
  
• Selling the property: through an estate agent; at a housing auction; to a Housing Association; to a developer. Many developers have registered interest in purchasing empty properties in any given condition; details will be provided upon request.

For more information and advice, please contact the Empty Homes Officer.

Empty Homes Officer
Private Sector Housing Team
Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Elizabeth House
Church Street
Stratford-upon-Avon
CV37 6HX

Tel: 01789 260 866
Fax: 01789 260 860
Email: psht@stratford-dc.gov.uk