Council tackles empty property homes eyesore

Newham Council’s drive to make more homes available for people who desperately need them, and tackle homelessness and antisocial behaviour has stepped up a pace with a new message to residents to report empty homes in their neighbourhoods.

The call has been made in National Empty Properties Week, and the council hopes that by bringing homes and other buildings back into use, it can reduce the housing waiting list and cut antisocial behaviour or squatting, which can occur when buildings are left empty for several months.

The council brought more than 230 long-term empty properties and vacant plots of land back into use last year by talking to owners and using enforcement powers. This equates to more than 750 new bed spaces.

These unused sites can often be an eyesore to the local community, devaluing neighbouring properties as well as attracting anti-social behaviour and nuisances, including squatting, arson, fly-tipping and pests.

Through the council, homeowners and landlords can get practical advice to help bring properties back to use and provide homes for families in Newham.

Executive member for housing, Andrew Baikie said: "The council has taken a tough approach to reducing the number of empty homes in Newham, providing more housing opportunities in the borough.“

Nationally, local authorities are able to exercise power given to them under the Housing Act to tackle empty homes. Each authority can now make Compulsory Purchase Orders or take enforcement action with an Empty Dwelling Management Order.

However, Newham’s preferred course of action is to negotiate with owners in the first instance with a positive response anticipated from them. The council is also able to offer advice on tenancy management options.

By working with home owners who need assistance to bring their empty property back into use and through dealing with those few properties that remain an eyesore to the local community the council has successfully brought back more than a thousand properties in the past five years.

Cllr Baikie added: “The message is clear, if you have an empty property or think you know where they are, contact the council for help in bringing it back in to use."

If people want to report empty properties in the borough contact Newham’s Empty Property Hotline on 020 8430 4436.