Having empty properties in our community does not benefit anybody, they have the potential to:

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Gertrude Henry
8 years ago
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2 Introduction An empty home is a wasted home Having empty properties in our community does not benefit anybody, they have the potential to: Attract crime and antisocial behaviour Blight local neighbourhoods Deny homes to those in greatest need Increase pressure for new development The benefits for owners or landlords when bringing empty properties back into use are: Increased rental income Increased capital value of property Increased sales potential Security against vandalism Security against squatters Loss of liability for council tax if property is rented out This leaflet will detail what support and assistance Wyre Forest District Council can offer those people affected, helping them to open the door to the potential in empty properties.

Increased rental income Increased capital value of property Increased sales potential Security against vandalism Security against squatters Loss of liability for council tax if property

3 Empty properties are wasting your money! By allowing a property to stay empty you are losing money. On average you are missing out on a potential rental income of between 400 and 550 for a 2-bedroom property and between 450 and 600 for a 3-bedroom property. If you include money that you would pay out on taxes and insurance you could be losing over 7000 a year by keeping your property empty. If your property is left empty longer than 6 months, you will still be liable to pay 75% of the council tax owed on that property. If you decide however that you want to carryout structural repairs on your property to make it habitable and are able to provide documentary evidence to prove that the work is being carried out then you may be eligible for total exemption from council tax payments. If you are planning on carrying out renovation on your empty property to convert it into a habitable dwelling you could also benefit from a reduced VAT rate. Whereas you would have previously paid 17.5%, it has been reduced to 5%. Further information regarding this can be obtained from HM Customs and Excise on or on their web-site

If you include money that you would pay out on taxes and insurance you could be losing over 7000 a year by keeping your property empty.

4 How we can help you! Wyre Forest District Council will try to help any person affected by an empty property by offering support, advice and workable solutions to enable the property to become reoccupied. There are a number of reasons for a property being empty and therefore there are a number of ways in which we may be able to assist, the following are just a few of the options that could be used: Repairs to property to convert it back into use. We can provide you with information on what works would be needed on a property to make it habitable. We can advise you what fees you may be likely to incur for any works that we recommend need to be carried out. We can provide you with contact details of approved contractors to ensure any work is completed to a high standard. We can advise you whether you may be eligible for any financial assistance. We can advise you of what other financial concessions you could access, i.e. VAT, Council Tax. Renting out the property We can provide you with contact details of all letting agents in the area, who will be able to offer you specialist advice about all aspects of renting your house through a management agent.

There are a number of reasons for a property being empty and therefore there are a number of ways in which we may be able to assist, the following are just a few of the options that could be used:

5 We can inform you of how you could let your property yourself, by providing you with information on how to access tenants and how to set up a legal tenancy agreement. We can advise you of all your rights and responsibilities as a landlord. Selling the property We can advise you if we believe that the best option for yourself is to sell the property. We can provide you with contact details of all local estate agents in the area, who will be able to offer you specialist advice about the current sales market. We can provide you with contact information for local social housing providers who may be interested in buying or managing your property for you. This list is by no means comprehensive and it may be a good idea to contact the Council to see whether any further assistance could be arranged to help with your specific circumstance. You must also consider what Building Regulations or Planning requirements may need to be met in relation to work on the property.

We can provide you with contact details of all local estate agents in the area, who will be able to offer you specialist advice about the current sales market.

6 What happens if you leave your property Empty? If you do decide to leave your property empty, and do not follow the advice that Wyre Forest District Council offers you, there are a number of enforcement tools that the council can use in a variety of situations: If your property is left empty and unsecured, and poses a risk that it may be entered or suffer vandalism, arson or similar, we will ensure that the property is made secure by using: Local Government Misc Provisions Act Building Act If your property is dangerous and has dilapidated buildings or structures, we will ensure that it is made safe by using: Building Act Housing Act If your property is infested by vermin or poses the risk of attracting and harbouring them, we will ensure that the property is cleared and treated by using: Prevention of Damage by Pests Act Public Health Acts 1936 and Environment Protection Act Building Act 1984.

of situations: If your property is left empty and unsecured, and poses a risk that it may be entered or suffer vandalism, arson or similar, we will ensure that the property is made secure by using:

7 If your property is on unsightly land and therefore affecting the appearance of the surrounding area, we will ensure the necessary improvements are made by using: Public Health Act Town and Country Planning Act Building Act If there is rubbish accumulating on the land where your property is located, we will ensure that all rubbish is cleared by using: Environmental Protection Act 1990 and finally.... If your property continues to be empty and you can not convince us that you have viable plans to bring the property back into use. We can ensure occupation by applying for an Empty Dwelling Management Order, where Wyre Forest District Council will take over management of your property and let it out by using: Housing Act 2004 Wyre Forest District Council will always prefer not to have to use these powers and would rather work with the owners to improve the issues affecting the empty property. However if an empty property owner refuses to take on board the advice given, the Council will have to seriously look to serve the relevant notices to arrange for works to be carried out on the property and have the costs of this whole process charged to the owner.

If there is rubbish accumulating on the land where your property is located, we will ensure that all rubbish is cleared by using: Environmental Protection Act 1990 and finally.

What is the council doing to bring empty homes back into use?

What is the council doing to bring empty homes back into use? Empty property Empty property In Medway there are empty properties that have an effect on everyone, whether directly or indirectly. The impact on the community can vary from having an unsightly property