Hundreds of empty homes back in use across Wolverhampton
Hundreds of privately-owned houses in Wolverhampton that have stood empty and derelict for years have been transformed into family homes.
More than 1,600 houses which had been left unoccupied, often in poor condition, have been brought back into use in the last eight years.
Council chiefs embarked on the major project to stop homes becoming a ‘blight to the neighbourhood’ and an eyesore.
They will now be sold to new homeowners or rented out to tenants.
But government data released in May last year, which formed part of the empty homes research, revealed that were 4,368 empty homes when the scheme was launched in 2010, and as of October last year there were still 3,268.
To get houses occupied again, Specialist Housing Improvement Officers from the council’s Private Sector Housing Team have worked with the owners of properties left empty for a long period of time to encourage and support them to carry out any required works.
As a last resort, the authority can use enforcement action to ensure this work takes place.
Last year, a pilot programme that offers grants of up to £500 to encourage more owners of empty properties to act was extended.
The grants either help owners with legal or agent fees to sell their property or provide an incentive to rent it under the Private Sector Leasing (PSL) Scheme - a property management service run in association with Wolverhampton Homes.
Councillor Peter Bilson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, said: “Not only is it providing more affordable housing to people in the City of Wolverhampton, but it is also improving the city and helping boost the local economy.
“The properties we have become involved with have often stood empty for many years and, as a result, the condition of them has often deteriorated dramatically.
“This strategy is helping to put these houses back on the market – either to sell or rent – and this in turn is having a positive effect in the areas they are in.
“In addition, it means landlords are once again seeing rental income come in, the value of their properties increases and local shops and services are benefiting from new residents occupying the houses – providing a significant boost to the economy.
“This is the equivalent of us building hundreds of new houses across the city and we will continue to focus our efforts on empty houses in the City of Wolverhampton.”
