Wolverhampton Council takes over 85 empty homes in city

Eighty-five empty homes in Wolverhampton have been taken on by council chiefs and are being let to families in a bid to cut down on housing waiting lists in the city.

More than 13,000 people are on the waiting list for a council property in the city. The council is now getting private landlords with empty buildings to allow Wolverhampton Homes and Accord Housing Association to let them out on their behalf.

The associations then take care of any repairs in the same way that they would with their own properties.

So far, 226 people have been given a new home under the scheme since it was launched in 2009.

The council has powers , known as Empty Dwelling Management Orders which, if a tribunal agrees, insist landlords do something with an empty property and orders them to do so within 12 months.

If nothing is done, the local authority can take control and manage the home for up to seven years although it does not take ownership.