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EXTRA SUPPORT FOR EMPTY HOMES ANNOUNCED (News (General))
by administrator 
, Wednesday, February 17, 2010, 04:12
Housing Minister, John Healey has announced extra support for councils to step up efforts to get empty homes back in use and reduce anti-social behaviour, including cash for an intensive crackdown in 17 local authority areas with known problems.
Empty homes, particularly those in disrepair, can be a magnet for vandalism, drug-taking, gangs or other forms of anti-social behaviour. Councils already have tough legal powers to force private landlords to sort out their properties and can even take over properties if necessary, but tenants and landlords often don't know about these powers, reducing their effectiveness.
That's why Healey is announcing a £1m boost to council efforts to train key staff on how best to get empty homes back in use, with cash for 17 councils where anti-social behaviour focused around empty homes is a real concern and residents want to see more effective local action.
The main response for councils will be through frontline workers and specialist teams with the expertise to lead the crackdown. This will include action to renovate derelict houses for letting out as social homes, and the use of private funding to turn empty homes into properties that allow local people the chance to take a more affordable step onto the housing ladder.
The announcement is part of the new drive to tackle anti-social behaviour announced in November. The drive will equip up to 10,000 front line workers and community champions, including 1,000 local tenants, with the skills to use tough powers to solve problems in their area. While many councils and social landlords are already working with the police to tackle anti-social behaviour, Ministers are determined to see more effective co-operation to give the public greater confidence that action is being taken.
Healey said: "Empty houses are both a blight on communities and a waste of much needed homes. Councils already have strong legal powers to force the owners of empty properties to act and if necessary take over homes, but these powers are often neither used or understood properly. I want Councils using every tool available so that people can see action being taken against anti-social behaviour in their area.
"I'm backing 17 councils in areas where empty homes have been a magnet for vandalism, threatening behaviour or other types of anti-social activities. They will get training for frontline workers and tenants so they understand how they can use their legal powers. And they will get the cash they need to renovate and re-let empty homes back, reviving run-down areas of their communities."
David Ireland, Chief Executive of the Empty Homes Agency said: " Every empty property is a missed opportunity for somebody to have a decent home. This initiative will, we hope, be the impetus for councils to offer people the help they need to turn vacant property into much needed homes."
