Empty homes in Brighton and Hove brought back into use by grant (From The Argus)
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Empty homes in Brighton and Hove brought back into use by grant
5:30pm Friday 1st March 2013 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter
Dozens of empty homes are to be brought back into use thanks to a £900,000 Government grant.
Brighton and Hove City Council has been awarded the money to refurbish 60 homes which have been vacant for more than six months.
The work, which will take place over three years, will include 45 in the city and 15 in the Lewes District Council area.
Liz Wakefield, chairman of the council’s housing committee, said: “Our city faces a chronic housing shortage and we are working hard to address the affordable housing needs of local people.
“Families need homes and we’re doing everything we can to provide them.
“The majority of empty properties in the city are privately owned, and our officers are working closely with the owners of empty properties to bring these homes back into use as quickly as possible.”
The funding will be in the form of loans and the funds will be re-used when they are repaid.
Among those to benefit will be local housing co-operatives and community groups, who will be allocated some money.
Return to rental
They are also being offered help to identify suitable empty properties.
Bosses added the scheme will encourage empty property owners to get involved as it will give them a guaranteed rental income, while ensuring the council receives full council tax.
A spokesman added: “An empty property can be a liability rather than an asset and the empty property team will also look at enforcement options to ensure that properties are returned to use.”
At last count, there were about 1,000 empty properties in the city.
In addition, there are more than 13,000 people on the council’s housing waiting list.
To report an empty property call 01273 293297 or email housing.strategy@brighton-hove.gov.uk.
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Comments(4)
RottingdeanRant
says...
8:32am Sat 2 Mar 13
whereisthe...?
says...
10:20pm Sat 2 Mar 13
Absolutely unbelievable - you lot really are the most evil people ever arent you?
Hateful lot.
RottingdeanRant
says...
8:39am Sun 3 Mar 13
whereisthe...? wrote:We (the electorate) LEGALLY stopped squatting as we used the law to do it. The idea of this grant it to get currently empty properties that are in poor condition back into use to that people can use them! The council have other powers to enforce repair of empty properties if the owners have the means.
So the owners of SECOND HOMES (Tories) not content with illegally stopping squatting, happy to see homeless people DIE, now get FREE LOANS FROM THE COALITION.
Absolutely unbelievable - you lot really are the most evil people ever arent you?
Hateful lot.
HJarrs says...
10:30pm Fri 1 Mar 13