Empty Wolverhampton properties will be seized for homeless families, private landlords warned
No-nonsense housing bosses in Wolverhampton are warning private landlords that any homes in the city left empty for long periods of time will be seized and used to provide much-needed accommodation for homeless families.
The city council’s ‘Empty Properties Strategy’ is designed to provide additional housing for people while at the same time generating additional civic income by reintroducing vacant properties to the market.
Under the programme, the latest two privately owned long-term empty homes identified for compulsory purchase orders are located in Beckett Street, Bilston, and Rayleigh Road, Pennfields.
Plans for both properties are set to be discussed by the council’s cabinet resources panel next week.
The house in Beckett Street is a terraced property that has been empty since October 2003. Since then, housing bosses have had a number of talks with the owner who has tended only to carry out work when faced with enforcement action.
Residents in Pennfields have already expressed their concerns over the run-down appearance of the property in Rayleigh Road that the council wishes to acquire. The terraced house has been empty since 2002.
Detrimental
Complaints regarding the condition of the building were first received in 2006, but despite a number of interactions with the owner, the situation is still unresolved and the property remains empty.
A notice to improve the detrimental condition of the building was served by the council and some minor work was done, but the notice has not been fully complied with.
A council spokesman said: “Long-term empty properties can have a detrimental impact and cause an environmental blight.
“Bringing properties back into residential use improves the appearance of neighbourhoods, enhances property conditions and contributes to the regeneration of the city.
“Putting an empty property back into use improves the health and wellbeing of the new occupants and provides safe and secure housing. It also reduces any anxiety associated with crime and the fear of crime that living next to an empty house can cause.”
Following the acquisition of any property, the council’s Director of City Housing can dispose of it on the open market on condition it is refurbished and reoccupied within six or 12 months. Any costs are met by the 2018-2019 approved £626,000 capital budget for the Empty Property Strategy.
Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Resources Panel will discuss the future of both properties at a meeting next week.
By Joe Sweeney, Local Democracy Reporter
