Empty Homes Week

Release date: 11 October 2018

This week marks Empty Homes Week 2018, and Cotswold District Council is working with the national campaign charity ‘Empty Homes’ to highlight the 300,000 long-term unoccupied houses in the UK.

In the Cotswolds there are currently 488 residences that are vacant and unused, 70 of which have been unoccupied for over 2 years. It is estimated that an empty property can cost the owner up to £10,000 per year in security, repairs, insurance, and council tax.

Empty homes are a waste of a valuable asset especially when over 1600 people are registered on our Homeseeker waiting list, hundreds of whom are in priority need.

The local authority charges a 50% premium on council tax for any house left empty for more than 2 years. The Government has agreed to double the total cost from April 2019 for owners who refuse to address the issue.

The Council has the power to enforce Empty Dwelling Management Orders and Compulsory Purchase Orders but we are keen to work with and support owners to bring their houses back into use.

If you are interested in more information about the charity ‘Empty Homes’ see;

http://www.emptyhomes.com/empty-homes-week.html(opens in a new window)

Or contact Chauncy Seed, Private Lettings Officer on 01285 623346, chauncy.seed@publicagroup.uk  if you are interested in letting your property to someone on our Homeseeker waiting list.

ENDS