East Cambridgeshire District Council has set out a new strategy to tackle long-term empty homes and bring more properties back into use for local residents.
The draft Long-Term Empty Homes Strategy, covering the next two years, was considered by the council’s Operational Services Committee on 22 June. The strategy aims to address the impact empty properties can have on communities, while helping meet local housing need.
Across East Cambridgeshire, more than 1,300 homes are currently recorded as empty, including around 470 properties that have been unoccupied for over six months. These long-term empty homes represent a significant unused resource at a time when demand for housing remains high.
The new strategy sets out a coordinated, council-wide approach to identifying, monitoring and addressing empty properties. It focuses on working proactively with owners to bring homes back into use, while also taking enforcement action where necessary in more challenging cases.
At the heart of the strategy is a commitment to engage constructively with property owners. The council will offer advice, guidance and support to help owners sell, let or refurbish their homes.
Where owners do not respond or properties are having a significant negative impact on the local area, the council will consider formal enforcement powers as a last resort.
The strategy is built around five key objectives:
- building a comprehensive and accurate database of empty homes
- identifying and prioritising the most problematic properties
- supporting owners with advice and practical solutions
- reducing the number of long-term empty homes
- maximising council tax income and recovering associated debts
The council will take a phased approach, starting with improving data and understanding of empty homes across the district, before progressing to targeted engagement and, where required, enforcement action.
Benefits for communities
Empty homes can contribute to a range of issues, including anti-social behaviour, environmental concerns and a decline in neighbourhood appearance.
Bringing properties back into use can help:
- increase the supply of housing
- improve local neighbourhoods
- reduce crime and nuisance
- support the local economy
- increase council tax revenue
The council expects the new approach to deliver a reduction in long-term empty homes over time, with evidence from other areas suggesting that a reduction of around 20% may be achievable.
Progress on the strategy will be reported back to councillors within six to nine months.
Cllr Julia Huffer, chair of the operational Services Committee, said: “Empty homes are a wasted resource at a time when we know housing demand is high. This strategy sets out a clear and practical plan to bring more of these properties back into use, supporting our communities and making the best use of existing homes.
“We want to work with owners wherever possible, offering support and advice, but we are also prepared to take action where properties are causing problems for residents.”