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Empty Properties Should be Made Available
Enabling public-owned empty properties to be brought back into use would set an example for the private sector, according to n independent campaigning charity.
David Ireland, chief executive at Empty Homes, said there are many ways in which the government can tackle the problem of empty homes
He explained that most owners of empty properties don't want their property to be empty, as this is not advantage, so things that could be introduced which help the owner and also act as an incentive for the owner to bring it back into use are the ones which are likely to be the most successful.
It comes after Communities and Local Government secretary Eric Pickles recently announced proposals to cut council tax for ordinary families, by giving councils the flexibility to remove council tax relief on second homes and empty homes, then use the money to keep overall council tax bills down.
Mr Ireland commented: "Something like a loans fund - which they are doing in some councils - is excellent. I would like to see that available across the country and I think that if that were available everywhere then that would make a big difference."
He noted that the other issue is that there are a lot of properties that are empty which are publicly owned, so making those available to people so that they can be brought back into use would also help and "send a lead".
If the council has property that is empty and it is making them available to people to bring back into use, it is setting an example as to what should happen in that area, Mr Ireland explained "It is enabling those properties to come back into use and setting a lead for the private
