Presentation for Landlords’ Forum
Empty Homes in the Private Sector
Gillian Edwards
Empty Homes in West Lothian
BackgroundWhy are properties emptyThe effect of empty propertiesHow the Council can helpThe Empty Homes ProjectContact
Background
• There are around 200 empty homes in the Private Sector in West Lothian
• The Council is working with Shelter and four other Councils to develop its approach to help owners bring their homes back into use.
• There is a dedicated Empty Homes Officer based at West Lothian Council one day per week
• Contact [email protected] or [email protected]
Why are there empty homes?
• There is a reluctance to let out the property• The property is subject to probate, estate or legal ownership
issues• Bankruptcy, repossession, abandonment• Long term care/hospitalisation• Waiting for refurbishment, lack of funds• Buy to leave• Lack of awareness of options• For sale/Let/Property chain
Answer - It has got stuck
The effect of Empty homes in a community
• Risk of fire/vandalism/fly tipping• Loss of community well being• Potentially reduction in property values• Loss of income to homeowner• Loss of Council Tax
How the Council can help
The Council has a dedicated Empty HomesOfficer that can provide advice on the following:• Marketing property• Matchmaker scheme – matching buyers and
sellers• Advice on letting a property• Information on availability of funding• Advice on appointing contractors
Empty Homes Success
• The Council has recently been awarded funding for an empty homes loan scheme. Interest free loans of up to £10,000 will be available for refurbishment of empty homes for use as affordable rented housing.
Empty Homes Success
• To date 17 properties have been brought back into use because of the work of the Empty Homes Officer
• The Empty Homes Officer is working with 27 live cases to bring empty homes back into use.
• People can now report empty homes and be confident that it will be addressed.
• Eyesore properties can become desirable homes• More Council tax can be generated as homes are brought back into use• The Homes Again Project this year won the Camelot “Empty Homes
Champion” of the year award. This award recognises the work done in relation to empty homes and the cooperation achieved between the Councils to deliver a shared service approach.
Empty Property Brought Back into use in Linlithgow
Location: Edinburgh Road, Linlithgow • Empty for: 10 years and 5 months • This property was inherited in a poor condition. The new owner didn’t want to
deal with the hassle of doing something with it and had effectively locked the door and ignored the property for years.
• West Lothian’s Empty Homes Officer wrote to the owner and subsequently had a number of discussions about the property with the owner. Following these discussions the owner decided to apply for planning permission, which was granted and renovations works began. A letter for VAT discounts was also provided by the Empty Homes Officer because the property had been empty for over 10 years.
• The renovation work was completed in early spring 2013 and the owner decided to move into the property. The owners said if it hadn’t been for the contact and support of the Empty Homes Officer they don’t think they would have ever done anything with the house.
• Outcome: The property was occupied by the owner in May 2013.
Empty Property Brought Back into use in Linlithgow
Property at Muirhall Brought Back into use
Properties brought back into use in Bathgate