Housing Charity Calls for Enhanced Efforts to Address Empty Homes

A housing charity has called for immediate measures to address the issue of hundreds of residential properties remaining vacant for extended periods. In Stockport, located within Greater Manchester, 263 properties have remained unoccupied during the last year, with 35 of these having been vacant for over ten years. The housing register for the borough currently lists at least 8,000 individuals, some of whom are facing a 12-year waiting period for access to social housing. Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council encourages owners of properties that have been empty for extended periods to return them to use through the imposition of elevated council tax rates. Charlie Trew, head of policy for the housing charity Shelter, conveyed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that properties remaining vacant for years are susceptible to deterioration, leading to significant repair expenses to render them habitable once more. He put forward the idea that local authorities could provide funding for repairs as part of an arrangement that would result in these properties being leased as social housing. Mr. Trew further stated that an alternative approach could involve local authorities employing compulsory purchase orders to acquire these properties. He characterized derelict homes as “a huge blight on communities” and further commented, “It’s a very visible sign of the failure to tackle the housing crisis.” The charity affirmed that this necessitates councils undertaking “absolutely everything they can” to reintegrate long-term empty homes into use and to construct more social homes. Colin MacAlister, who serves as Stockport Council’s housing lead, indicated that significant endeavors have been undertaken to diminish the quantity of vacant properties within the borough. He elaborated, stating, “It’s a difficult one,” and continued, “We don’t want to become Big Brother but equally we don’t want people living next to empty houses.” Stockport records a comparatively low figure of long-term vacant residences when contrasted with other localities, yet it becomes problematic when a property is not maintained, which is typically when it draws the council’s attention. Property owners in Stockport are subject to a council tax charge that is double the standard rate if their dwelling remains unoccupied for a period exceeding 12 months. Subsequently, after five and ten years, the council tax is increased to three and four times the original amount, respectively. This particular policy generated revenue exceeding £600,000 during the past year. Stockport Council anticipates allocating £1 million this year for the provision of temporary accommodation, marking a substantial increase from the £180,000 expended in 2022.