Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Housing and Contracts.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at its meeting on 5 March 2013 and comments will be reported.

(Report circulated)

(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.

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 its meeting of 5 March and the comments and support of members were noted.

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.

(Report circulated)

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Housing and Contracts – report circulated

The Assistant Director Housing and Contracts presented the report seeking approval for 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.

Members welcomed the proposal, one Member urging caution should any property that was purchased prove difficult to sell. The Assistant Director confirmed that there would be an element of risk with purchase but that great care would be taken to ensure that only properties with a good chance of a subsequent sale would be obtained. Members requested that extra attention be given to identifying empty properties as a result of changes in Council Tax rules and in areas with a large number of multi-room rented properties.

The Strategic Director (MP) undertook to submit a report to a future meeting of this Committee on issues relating to student accommodation.

Scrutiny Committee - Community supported the Empty Homes Enforcement Policy and requested Executive to:-

(1)       approve the Empty Homes Enforcement Policy;

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

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

(4)       authorise the Assistant Director Housing and Contracts, subject to prior consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Involvement, to undertake an Enforced Sale, an Empty Dwelling Management Order or a Compulsory Purchase Order as necessary to bring any empty properties back into use.

(Report circulated)