Decision details

(Minute 32)

The report of the Assistant Director Housing and Contracts was submitted, seeking to approve a systematic approach to tackling long term empty homes in the city and the use of enforcement powers where required to ensure empty homes are returned back into use.

The Assistant Director Housing and Contracts reported that, compared to similar areas, the Council already had a good track record in tackling empty properties.  Nevertheless in February 2013, there were 310 long term empty properties on the Council Tax Class C list, with 77 having been empty for longer than 12 months.

Executive welcomed the robust approach proposed. Members felt strongly that long term empty properties were a waste of a valuable housing resource, particularly in areas of high housing demand like Exeter.  They acknowledged that unoccupied properties rapidly fell into disrepair and neglect, frequently becoming a blight on the neighbourhood by attracting anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping and vermin.   They were assured that all possible measures to encourage the re-use of properties would continue to be taken and that Compulsory Purchase Orders would only be used as a last resort. They hoped that the power to compulsorily purchase properties would in itself act as an incentive to property owners to bring properties back into use.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at their meeting of 5 March and their comments and support were noted.

Executive resolved that:-

(1)        the Empty Homes Enforcement Policy attached at Appendix 1 to the report be approved;

(2)        the use of New Homes Bonus to fund enforcement action on empty properties in exceptional circumstances be authorised where external services are required, to a maximum of £20,000 over the next three years;

(3)        the use of New Homes Bonus in exceptional circumstances be authorised to fund the purchase of an empty property to a maximum of £300,000 per property; and

(4)        the Assistant Director Housing and Contracts, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Involvement, be authorised to undertake an Enforced Sale, an Empty Dwelling Management Order or a Compulsory Purchase Order to bring an empty property back to use.