Council in bid to cut unoccupied city homes

NEWPORT council has launched a new strategy aimed at reducing the number of empty homes in the city, as numbers rise across Gwent.

The number of long-term empty private homes in Newport has risen by 16% since 2010, and across Wales by 24% over the same period.

In 2017/18, just 15 of Newport’s 1,199 empty homes were brought back into use, accounting for 1.25% of the total.

This proportion of homes brought back into use is one of the lowest across Wales, with the average across the country standing at 5.2%.

Renovations or conversions resulting in new homes are not included in the figures, though, with Newport said to be one of the best performing in this category.

A council report says: “Leaving homes empty reduces the supply of available housing, and given the current housing shortage, increases the pressure for development on green space.

“Properties that look unoccupied tend to attract anti-social behaviour or criminal damage, and when clusters of empty homes occur they reduce its vibrancy.”

The authority ended a 50% council tax discount on empty homes in April in a bid to prevent homes from standing empty.

The new strategy, adopted by Newport council on August 1, talks of improving a joined-up approach to tackling “problem” properties,

increasing resources to deal with empty homes and taking enforcement action where needed.

Cllr Jane Mudd, cabinet member for housing and regeneration, said additional resources will be made available to increase the number of interventions the council is able to undertake on empty homes.

However, Conservative councillor David Fouweather criticised the council’s “poor” record of bringing empty homes back into use.

Cllr Miqdad Al-Nuaimi said the new policy is “very welcome” but “lacking in targets and timelines”.

Cllr Al-Nuaimi said more details about the effect the strategy will have on reducing empty homes is needed.

Other Gwent authorities have also seen sharp rises in the number of homes standing empty – and reductions in the numbers brought back into use – though this has been attributed to changes in the way information is recorded.

The number of properties empty for more than six months in Monmouthshire stands at 728 in 2017/18, with 26 brought back into use.

Caerphilly county borough has 1,575 empty homes, with 36 returned to use, while Blaenau Gwent brought back into use 29 of 869 empty homes last year. Out of 251 empty homes in Torfaen last year, 33 were brought back into use.