PRESS RELEASE - 27 April 2009

Bournemouth’s empty homes to be used to ease housing shortage

More empty homes in Bournemouth will be brought back into use thanks to the launch of Bournemouth Council’s Empty Homes Strategy.

The strategy aims to bring more than 210 empty homes back in to use between now and 2012 and sets out ways in which the Council will tackle this issue.

• Reduce the number of empty properties by preventing homes becoming empty in the first place
• Improve the condition of empty homes
• Bring homes back into use to meet the Council’s homelessness duties
• Develop ways to encourage and assist owners to bring their empty property back in to use
• Promote options to owners of empty homes
• Maximise funding opportunities available to bring empty homes back in to use

Grants are available for owners of homes which have been empty for more than six months in order to carry out improvement work on the building, making it suitable for rental or sale opportunities. In most cases grants will be tied to ‘nomination rights for the Council’ so that properties can be rented to tenants on the Council’s housing waiting list.

Councillor Peter Charon, Cabinet Member for Housing and Procurement said: “The number of empty homes in our town is a significant wasted resource. There is the potential to greatly contribute towards housing demands and bring empty homes back in to use.”

He added: “It makes sense to utilise empty homes in the borough. As well as generating income for homeowners, it will enhance the local environment and run-down areas, improve housing standards and help to address the housing demand in Bournemouth.”

For further information, please contact the Empty Homes Officer, tel: 01202 451532 or email richard.hendren@bournemouth.gov.uk.
Web: www.bournemouth.gov.uk/healthyhomes