Teignbridge backs National Empty Homes Week
The number of empty homes across Teignbridge is at an all-time low.
As of October 2015 the number of empty homes in Teignbridge is 365, a reduction of 370 since 2008.
The figures have been released ahead of National Empty Homes Week (30 Nov 2015 - 6 Dec 2015), a national drive to highlight the waste of empty property nationwide, and to celebrate the success of numerous examples and new initiatives to bring empty homes back into use.
Properties become empty for a variety of reasons, including owners moving into nursing homes or other properties going into probate. In most cases owners of empty properties do not want to leave them unoccupied as invariably they are a drain on their resources in terms of unwanted bills for repairs, Council Tax, insurance, utilities and lost rental income.
The vast majority of the remaining empty properties are actively being marketed for sale or let, or are in the process of being refurbished for reoccupation.
One such scheme in Newton Abbot was completed in 2014 transforming a large unused space above a retail unit in Queen Street into 8 affordable self contained flats.
Teignbridge offers a range of help, advice and financial assistance to those who have an empty property or are struggling to know where to get help. If properties remain unoccupied due to a lack of funds for refurbishment works or difficulty letting, small grants may be able to help with making properties ready for reoccupation.
On occasions properties are simply neglected, which can encourage issues like anti social behaviour, they quickly fall into disrepair and gardens become overgrown causing a nuisance to neighbouring residents and affecting the value of neighbouring properties. This can sometimes result in enforcement action – although this is usually a last resort.
Teignbridge District Council’s Executive Spokesperson for Planning and Housing Cllr Humphrey Clemens said: “It’s great to see all the work is having such a positive effect.
“This reduction has in the main been achieved by positive engagement with owners in the form of advice, loans, grants, tenant matching, open days and landlord training days.
“In recent years the amount of financial assistance available from Teignbridge for empty homes has reduced and we’ve looked at new ways to help us continue with the downward trend.
"Funding of £275,000 from the Homes and Communities Agency and a £35,000 contribution by Teignbridge has helped create 30 affordable units in areas of high housing need and make better use of empty and underused spaces above shops in town centres.
“This means we’ve been able to tidy up unused properties, boost the quality of life for local communities and provide people with much needed homes – a win-win for all involved.”
In addition to financial assistance, help is available for owners who decide to let their properties in the form of landlord training days and annual open evenings where a range of experts are on hand to provide advice.
The next open evening is on Thursday 19 May 2016 at Old Forde House, Brunel Road, Newton Abbot, TQ12 4XX at 5pm.
Teignbridge works closely with Plymouth Access to Housing (PATH) which offers free rent support and tenant matching service working with both tenants and landlords to ensure successful long-term tenancies.
If you are the owner of an empty property or a commercial space and would like to discuss assistance available please contact Teignbridge District Council’s Empty Homes Officer Hayley Farley on 01626 215425.
