Empty Homes

An empty home is a wasted resource both for the owner who could otherwise make financial gains by letting or selling the property, and for those who are in need of housing. In addition, empty homes can have strong negative impact both on residents living in the neighbouring vicinity and the wider community.

Property owners should generally be free to decide how their property is used. However, this fundamental right needs to be balanced against the rights of others living in the community in which the property is located. In ensuring a reasonable balance is struck, there is a legitimate public interest in ensuring empty homes do not have an undue impact on the local community, and where they do there is a reasonable prospect that the matter will be resolved. Our aim is to encourage responsible ownership through a variety of methods:

• Free advice and information to owners on the options available
• Advice to prospective Landlords
• Grant assistance to repair or improve empty homes
• Enforcement action, where appropriate, on problem properties

Stafford Borough Council has a draft Empty Homes Strategy which is currently out for consultation. The Council would appreciate your comments regarding the content and nature of this strategy by 31st December 2008.

Click Draft Empty Homes Strategy to view the strategy. 

Click Here to submit your comments.

National Week of Action - The Empty Homes Agency.

The Empty Homes Agency is an independent campaigning charity, which exists to highlight the waste of empty property in England and works with others to devise and promote solutions to bring empty property back into use.

To mark National Empty Homes Week of Action 23rd - 29th November 2008 the Empty Homes Agency is calling on the public to report run-down empty homes to local council's to help bring them back into use.

"At the very time people need more homes, record numbers are falling empty" says Chief Executive David Ireland. There are now enough vacant homes in England to house almost two million people, yet far more attention is paid to building new ones. Council's have the power to step in and help, but can't do so unless they know where they are and won't unless they know people care", he said.

The Empty Homes Agency this week launches a new website ReportEmptyHomes.com to make it as easy as possible for people to report empty homes that are affecting them. The website will automatically report the property to the person in the council who can take action and will provide updates until the property is back in use.

Report an empty home near you either to the Council direct or by clicking here.