Agenda item

Ian Bakewell introduced the report about the background, progress,challenges and achievements of the project and the future plans, answering members’ questions withClare Hamer and Helen Norton. 

Key points from members: 

·        Members asked what the empty homes project was and were advised it’s an initiative by the Council to reduce the number of recorded empty homes in Monmouthshire, through more contact and engagement with the owners, and offering them grants and loans to bring their properties back into use.  

·        Members queried how many empty homes there were at the start and end of the year, officers advising that there were 541 empty homes at the start of the year and 366 at the end of the year. 

·        The challenges and opportunities of the project were questioned and Members heard that these are the variety of reasons and circumstances behind the empty homes,the availability of grants and loans to support the owners, and the potential for the homes to be used for social housing or private sector.  

·        Members asked about the next steps and future plans of the project and the officers advised that these involve continuing the supportive and helpful approach, but also considering more formal enforcement actions for some problematic properties, in collaboration with other departments.  

·        The criteria and conditions for the empty homes grant were discussed, the committee hearing that the empty homes grant is a grant of up to £25,000 for owners of properties that have been empty for more than 12 months and unfurnished. Owners must live in the property for five years after the completion of the works.  

·        The promotion of empty homes loans and grants was discussed, officers explaining that loans and grants are promoted mainly through social media, website, and literature that can be sent to town and community councils. Members requested this information to distribute within their own communities. ACTION: Officers to provide us with the relevant information on empty homes loans and grants. 

·        The Committee discussed the challenges of identifying and engaging with trusts and estates that have empty properties, particularly if they aren’t registered individually for Council tax and therefore may not be on the list that Council tax provides.  

·        The teams’ enforcement powers for problematic empty propertieswere questioned, Members hearing that they can include compulsory purchase orders, enforced sales, empty dwelling management orders, and improvement notices, accepting that the scope and feasibility of using these powers need to be discussed with other departments and legal services.  

·        A Member asked about the possibility of addressing under occupation in rented accommodation, officers explaining that this wasn’tpart of the empty homes work, but that housing associations would periodically review their stock and encourage tenants to downsize if appropriate.  

·        Another Member asked about the outcomes and effectiveness of the empty homes project and how many properties have been brought back into use. Officers responded, explaining that they didn’t track the properties that have been privately rented, but that they had seen an increase in the uptake of loans and grants and a reduction in the number of empty homes.  

·        A Member queried a potential situation where a property may be empty, but furnished, however, officers advised that this wouldn’t be classed as empty, but that they could still investigate if there was evidence of long-term vacancy and potential for grant application.  

Action Items: 

·        Empty homes loans and grants:  Officers to contact town and community councils and make them aware of the availability of the loans and grants.  

·        Enforcement powers: Discuss with building control, environmental health, planning and legal services the scope and feasibility of using enforcement powers for problematic empty properties. 

·        Trusts and estates:  Officers explore how to identify and engage with trusts and estates that have empty properties that are not registered individually for Council tax. 

Chair’s Summary: 

The report has been scrutinised by the People Scrutiny Committee who have asked questions around the nature of the empty homes project, how it works, how many empty homes we had at the start of the year and year end, the challenges and opportunities of the project, the future plans and next stages. Members also asked about the criteria and conditions for empty homes grants and requested as an action that the officer contacts town and community councils and make them aware of the availability of the loans and grants. The Committee discussed how empty homes loans and grants are promoted and talked about enforcement powers, asking officers to progress discussions with building control, environmental health, planning and legal services the scope and feasibility of using enforcement powers for problematic empty properties. Finally, Members discussed trusts and estates and how the Council can explore how to identify and engage with trusts and estates that have empty properties that are not registered individually for Council tax.  The Committee was supportive of option 1 being continued and would like to be kept updated on progress in due course.