Empty Homes in Peterborough

Developing an Empty Homes Strategy

At Peterborough City Council we have a commitment to reduce the number of empty properties within the city.

The Empty Homes Strategy will offer support, information, advice and guidance to help bring these properties back into use and to tackle the problems often associated with long term empty homes.

The Empty Homes Strategy 2006-08 is available to view in PDF format below.

Empty Homes Strategy 2006-08 (pdf: 83kb/17 pages)

The benefits of an Empty Homes Strategy

A successfully targeted and effective Empty Homes Strategy can help to:

reduce the risk of serious crime e.g. arson
reduce the opportunity for vandalism
reduce the opportunity for squatting
significantly improve the appearance of the community and the confidence to be part of it
improve the value of surrounding properties
reduce the need to build new homes on Greenfield sites
increase revenue to the Council through greater Council Tax income
bring properties back into use which may relieve pressures elsewhere in the housing market
enable the Police, Fire Service and the Council's resources to focus on other issues or areas for concern

What is the Empty Homes Strategy?

The Empty Homes Strategy sets out how we intend to bring empty homes back into use, providing much needed , high quality, affordable housing that is more economically viable than new build. Environmentally, it is essential to make every effort to renovate existing properties in order to minimise the need to develop Greenfield sites. Ensuring that empty homes become occupied can result in improved environmental conditions and a reduction in the level of crime and anti-social behaviour often associated with derelict and empty properties.

What are the Aims of the Strategy?

To reduce the number of empty properties in the city.
To effectively deal with any problems associated with empty properties.
To minimise the need for future development of Greenfield sites.
To improve the existing built environment.
To work in partnership with other organisations involved with empty properties.
To be proactive in the identification of empty homes.
To create good quality, affordable housing for those in housing need in conjunction with the Housing Options Team.
To raise awareness of empty homes issues.

What is the Scale of the Problem?

Peterborough currently has 751 properties that have been empty for 6 months or more - around 1.07% of the total housing stock, and the Council has a dedicated Empty Homes Project Officer to implement the strategy. When deciding whether a property is empty and should be targeted under the strategy the following are considered:

Is there a large amount of post visible on the doormat?
Is there furniture in the property?
Does the garden look maintained?
Are there signs of long term disrepair ?
Do the neighbours know when the property was last occupied?
Is the property secure?

What are the benefits of filling empty properties?

To you, the property owner:

Where renovation work is involved, an increase in the capital value of your property
A rental income, this will vary according to the way you decide to rent your property, but any rent is better than none
The assurance of knowing that your property is occupied, saving you from the worry of vandalism, squatters and neighbour complaints
If you decide to sell your property, the capital you will receive from that sale and not having to pay council tax on the property

To the community:

A visual and social improvement of the local neighbourhood of the former empty property
A home for someone who is in housing need, relieving the pressure on the demand for social housing
Increased revenue from council tax for an occupied property, reducing the burden on other tax payers
Less complaints to the city council/police and fire services so freeing up resources to tackle other issues

What support does the strategy offer to an owner who decides to let out or sell their property?

The following schemes and initiatives are currently being developed

Rent Deposit Scheme, this would guarantee the landlord the rent deposit
Housing Association Leasing Scheme, this enables a landlord to rent out the property through a registered housing association which guarantees a monthly income.
Property assessments, these are free inspections of the property to advise the owner of any defects before the property is let.
Discounted Estate Agent Fees where the property has been identified under the strategy.
Database of companies who are looking for accommodation to rent.
Landlord information Pack.
Empty Property Grants

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 sale
Demolition Order

Further Information

If you would like more information about the Empty Homes Strategy or you have a complaint about an empty property please contact the Empty Homes Officer

Contact the Empty Homes Officer

You will receive a response to your enquiry no later than 5 working days from the date of your enquiry.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

If you live near or are the owner of a home that is:

Empty for at least 6 months
not in the process of being renovated/sold
in private ownership

WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU!

The following document is in Adobe® Acrobat® (PDF) format. You will need to have Acrobat Reader installed to view this file. (Those with visual impairments may wish to investigate Access Adobe, which provides tools and information to help make PDF files more accessible.)

Empty Homes Strategy 2006-08 Draft (pdf: 83kb/17 pages)

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