EMPTY PROPERTY ISSUES 2011 Setting the Scene Dave Stott Associate Empty Homes

FOREWORD As you implement the coalition government cuts and savings are at a premium. The asset that empty properties hold and the benefit this resource can make to housing lists and access to home ownership is a key policy of the HCA, CLG and the Housing Minister Grant Shapps. Today I want to discuss what you can do, why you should do it, and hopefully what you can secure by doing it? I will go through briefly all the options you have available and build upon what you have achieved to ensure this Authority a top performer. I will cover what you can achieve within your resources and what extra funds you may attract if you position your Authorities profile and priorities on Empty properties

EMPTY HOMES 2011 House building will almost certainly be insufficient Crime rates and antisocial behaviour are demonstrably higher in areas with empty homes Vacancy rates are at an historical high and are still rising. There are many various reasons for this – over development of new flats, stalled regeneration, and reduction in local private sector redevelopment. Low demand still exists in a limited way in a few small areas of the country

EMPTY HOMES 2011

SEMINAR FOREWORD Your council has a pivotal role in all this Your council's position is and should always be strategic. You are not responsible for solving the whole thing single-handed Your Council should develop and instigating relationships You need in the first instance a balanced strategy You need EP’s to be integral in the Local Investment plan You need robust establishment charges to ensure costs are recovered You need trained officers capable of focused delivery and competent on the various option

EMPTY HOMES 2011 There are lots of options you can use in your strategy and delivery plan. You will be receiving help to deliver your own toolkit of options from the HCA but you will always start with the support options Advice Assistance Loan options including equity share Small grants Information services Assisted sales Voluntary acquisitions Managing Agents

EMPTY HOMES 2011 Agreement Advice and assistance always the first options Always willing to work with willing owners Proportionate and reasonable

EMPTY HOMES 2011 Enforcement options in the balanced strategy and toolkit options Positive Action Letters Statutory Enforcement Compulsory Purchase Orders single Enforced Sales Council Tax Enforced Sales Public Request to Order Disposal Temporary Social Housing Grants Empty Dwelling Management Orders

Similar to the earlier support option picture. This is normally the type of owner that you will be dealing with on the enforcement options. Mad and unreasonable. Add to these some other categories Funny Money Die Hard Dead On sabbaticals These highlight some of the harder instances when your strategic lead and expertise is required EMPTY HOMES 2011

Lots of options for most situations Many of these options are not costly Positive Action Letters along with LGMP section 76 as a constant can resolve issues on their own Enforcement powers can all be recovered Enforced Sales costs can all be recovered Single CPO can recover costs in most cases Empty Property registers and ranking can focus resources

EMPTY HOMES 2011 New funding sources New Homes Bonus Targeted 100million Homes and Communities Agency support Local Investment plan

EMPTY HOMES 2011 Local Investment plans Empty property delivery plans will need to be in the top 5 issues discussed Crucial as we move towards 2012 that there is a bespoke team ready to take advantage of the opportunities on funding Consolidate and develop delivery plans Localism Bill will aid and support the need to address blighted empty properties in the neighbourhoods

EMPTY HOMES 2011 HCA support Centrally controlled Geographical Information System in June 11 Full toolkit of options available August 11 Virtual Learning Environment available April 11 On-going support and assistance to make the difference Support from the Empty Homes via the HCA

EMPTY HOMES million available To be targeted at RSL partners Only applicable through your strategic lead Only granted when authorised via your strategic lead Will be useful on voluntary acquisitions Will not be any use for the majority of ‘RASPUTIN’ properties You should be agreeing partnerships with your lead RSL’s to assist Reaffirm only deployed with your lead and direction

EMPTY HOMES 2011 New Homes Bonus To be implemented April 2011 Based on Council Tax bands For each home back into use a grant is payable Unfortunately not ring-fenced for future EP works Authority can decide to put a % back into EP programmes Speculate to accumulate Not clear as yet on reporting criteria and audit trails Grant is 6 times the council tax band paid to the Authority

EMPTY HOMES 2011 What now Well you have already started with your officers attending HCA led training already Today is another statement of your commitment The opportunities both in funding and addressing some of these empty blighted properties is coming Build upon your good work and results already achieved I am here to help and advise you You can and will make the difference

EMPTY HOMES 2011 FINAL COMMENT FOR THE DAY During my work with the Empty Homes I had to talk to a cabinet meeting in a South West County Council I will not state which political party the leader was with but here is a clue She was wearing a blue check 2 piece suit, strawberry blonde back combed hair and a matching ‘blue’ bag and shoes All went well and after my presentation the leader a nicely spoken lady stated that during her canvasing Empty Homes were her 2nd highest priority from her constituents. I naively asked what was the 1 st and to quote in the exact way she responded …….. Puts matters and my life into perspective with that one comment. Never forget your place.

EMPTY HOMES 2011 Any questions to any of the points I have raised? You can always contact me at