Working in partnership with Cartrefi Conwy, the strategy offers a range of options for owners of empty homes - from help and advice to financial assistance in some circumstances.
While the strategy focuses on the positive actions that the Council can take to support empty home owners, there are circumstances where more formal action may be required. Further information on the legal powers which the Council can draw on is contained in section 11 of the strategy.
The current version of the strategy was approved by the Council’s Cabinet in September 2019 and will be reviewed annually.
Documents:
Consultation feedback:
- At the end of 2019, we consulted on a new draft empty homes strategy. As part of the consultation process, respondents were asked to complete an on-line questionnaire, and a total of 43 were completed, both by empty property owners and members of the public who were aware of or concerned about empty properties.
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- The strategy is going in the right general direction, but more focus should be given to enforcement action where properties are in poor condition.
- The Council should prioritise bringing empty properties back into use that will meet the needs of homeless households and those with specialist needs (for example adaptations).
- More resources should be put into dealing with empty properties, as this will result in better outcomes.
- More should be done to bring empty properties back into use in order to reduce the need for building new houses.
- Some respondents referred to the Council Tax Premium of 25% on long term empty and second homes, with differing views on the impact this has on bringing empty properties back into use.
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A consistent theme emerging from a number of consultation responses was that the Council needs to increase its activity around the enforcement of empty homes. Comments included:
- There should be ‘zero tolerance’ of empty properties, and in particular those that are in poor condition and adversely affecting neighbouring properties
- The Council should make better use of compulsory purchase powers to bring empty properties back into use
- Greater use should be made of the enforcement powers that already exist to tackle empty properties
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