Empty homes
Empty homes are a national problem. They encourage vandalism,
social issues and degradation, as well as providing an eyesore for
surrounding residents and communities. At Peterborough City
Council, we are committed to reducing the number of empty
properties in the city, and tackling the issues associated with
long-term empty homes.
Why have an empty homes service?
Whilst homes that lay empty for
long periods are a waste of a scarce resource, record demands for
housing and growing social housing waiting lists mean that more use
has to be made of the existing housing stock. Peterborough City
Council aim to utilise the existing housing stock, whilst reducing
the impact of empty homes on neighbouring residents, and
highlighting the benefits of reuse to vacant property owners.
The impact empty home can have
- Run-down, derelict and abandoned properties bring down the
appearance of a neighbourhood, and give a sense of decay and
decline.
- Act as a magnet for crime and anti social behaviour, including
squatting, vandalism and arson. Overgrown gardens can further hide
this type of activity.
- Increase the risk of structural damage and can affect
neighbouring properties.
- Business users and investors can be reluctant to invest in the
area and families can be reluctant to move to the area. This may
lead to a 'spiral of decline'.
- Lead to community degradation, effecting property values and
reducing selling prices.
The benefits of reuse
- Greatly improves an area's appearance and boosts people's
confidence in their neighbourhood.
- Reduces the health hazards associated with these issues, as
well as improving the visual appearance of the homes and
gardens.
- Reduces the opportunity and scope for crime on both property
and person.
- Attracts inward investment and helps makes the area an
attractive place in which to live and work.
- Reduces the need to build new homes on green field sites.
How we can help
The Empty Homes Service offers Peterborough homeowners
information, advice and support to bring their empty properties
back into use.
If you own an empty home, we can:
- give you a free property assessment
- informally discuss with you the various options and the best
way to proceed
- advise and help you with applications, approvals, lettings and
sale processes.
If you are thinking of buying an empty home, or have recently
bought or inherited one, we can provide support, assistance and
contacts in the refurbishment and future use of the property.
What if an owner decides to leave the property empty?
The Council has several options:
- To serve a Compulsory Purchase Order on the property
- To serve a notice to make the owner bring their property up to
the current housing standards
- To apply for an Empty Dwelling Management Order - which enable
the council to take over the management of the property for up to 7
years, carry out remedial works and use the property to reduce the
housing need within the city
- Enforced the sale of a property
- Carry out a Demolition Order, where the condition of a property
goes beyond a returnable state of repair.
Enforcement measures are only used as a last resort where it has
been impossible to trace the owner, agree a voluntary solution with
them, or where a home has simply been abandoned. But in cases of
extreme dereliction, urban blight, or structural instability, the
Council must act to protect the health and safety of Peterborough
residents.
Reporting an empty home
You can use the online form to report an empty home or for more
information contact the Empty Homes Team. Your
personal information provided will be treated in confidence and in
accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. It will only be used
to contact you about the property information you are providing. It
will not be used or shared for any other purpose.