Council could use enforcement action on empty homes
BRIDGEND County Borough Council’s new strategy aims to tackle the blight of empty properties in the county with a focus on bringing them back into use as residential housing.
The local authority said its approach is to first work with owners but if properties continue to remain empty, are in a state of disrepair and a nuisance to the community, it will consider enforcement action.
The new strategy states: “Empty properties are a wasted resource.
“While they may not always be left in a state of disrepair, there are always consequences.”
According to the strategy, consequences include arson, squatting, rodent infestation and dangerous structures, as well as property devaluation and a poor impression of the area.
Properties can become empty for a range of reasons – unresolved ownership following a death, bankruptcy, owners entering hospital or prison, or repairs and renovations being too expensive.
They may also be in areas of low demand or areas of over supply.
The main focus of the strategy is to bring back into use long-term empty residential properties which are defined as properties which are liable for council tax and have been unoccupied for a period of six months or more.
In April 2019 there were almost 1,300 private sector residential properties empty for six months or more, which accounted for 2% of the county’s residential properties.
The strategy notes most of the empty properties are in and around Maesteg, Porthcawl and Bridgend’s town centres.
But it also points out the valleys areas have a higher density of empty properties – 4.5% of homes in the Ogmore Valley are empty, while 3.2% of homes in the Garw Valley are empty.
The council said the value of an empty property will be a factor in whether it can be brought back into use, as there may be little or no equity to obtain funding to carry out repair works on the property.
Another factor involves the housing need – almost two-thirds of demand on the housing register in Bridgend is for one-bed properties.
With the majority of empty properties having three bedrooms or more, the council said these will have to be converted into shared housing or flats to meet the demand.
The council plans to develop a confidential online reporting service so
THE council is focusing on properties:
That are classed as a nuisance when there has been a notice served for environmental health reasons, for example to carry out work for the removal or destruction of rats or mice on land or to secure unauthorised entry to an empty building or prevent it becoming a danger to public health.
Where complaints have been received from a member of the public such as a neighbour, the police, a councillor, an Assembly Member, a Member of Parliament or council officer.
Which present an arson risk.
Where there have been incidents of anti-social behaviour.
That are in an area of high housing need.
That are in disrepair when there has been a notice served because the building or structure is dangerous.
That are detrimental people are able to report an empty property and associated issues.
It also intends to look at increasing the council tax premium on properties that are empty for two years or longer.
Meanwhile, enforcement options include the use of enforced sales, empty dwelling management orders and compulsory purchase orders.
Enforced sales – where the local authority has served notice on an owner to carry out works but they have failed to do so, the local authority has the power to carry out the works itself and recover the costs by placing a charge on the property. to the local community when there has been a notice served for issues like boarding up broken windows or when the property is in a conservation area.
That are in the town centre or on the outskirts – the council says bringing these back into use can help foster a vibrant and viable town centre and support a successful economy.
Where there is a debt owed to the council – when there is a council tax charging order on the property for council tax arrears, or when works in default have been carried out following notices that have been served, and a charge placed on the property.
For more information about the help available to owners of empty properties, search for “empty properties” on bridgend.gov.uk, email emptyproperties@ bridgend.gov.uk or call 01656 646 342.