Empty homes in North East Lincolnshire are 'blighting the community'

CONCERNS have been raised about the rate at which empty properties in North East Lincolnshire are being brought back into use.

The council currently aims to bring 52 disused homes back into a habitable condition during 2013 – just two more than last year.

Speaking at the latest regeneration, environment and housing scrutiny panel, Councillor Karl Wilson (Labour, Heneage) said: "I think empty homes are blighting the community and are a target for anti-social behaviour.

"There was talk of raising the number brought back into use each year, but an increase from 50 to 52 seems very slight for such a key issue."

Responding to the comments, head of development Jason Longhurst said the number of empty homes being returned to use each year was just 30 three years ago.

He added: "We have got to balance the budget.

"It remains a key priority but this is a realistic figure for delivery without us needing significant additional resources."

Councillor Philip Jackson (Conservative, Waltham) said: "Compared to the 2,000 or so empty homes in the borough, bringing 50 per year back into use seems like a drop in the ocean."

Councillor Ray Oxby (Labour, South) added that he believes extra resources need to be allocated to target empty homes.

He added: "I recognise the resource constraints we are operating under, but I have real concerns about empty homes leading neighbourhoods in a vicious downward spiral.

"We need to consider the wider issue that stimulates the housing market and housing demand, and that is the economy."

Councillor Andrew De Freitas (Liberal Democrat, Park) said one way of encouraging private landlords to improve their properties would be to tax them.

He added: "Empty homes are a problem all across North East Lincolnshire.

"We need to be more proactive in taxing private landlords so that they bring their properties back into use.

"These are often substantial properties in desirable areas but unless there is some incentive to carry out the work, then landlords will continue to sit on them as a future investment.

"There are properties in my ward with a lot of potential but they are sat there doing nothing."

Councillor Jane Hyldon-King (Labour, Yarborough) said the authority must be wary of offering incentives for development to private landlords.

She added: "Unfortunately there are a handful of unscrupulous private landlords out there and I have heard cases of them being given grants to improve properties and then pocketing the money and not carrying out the work."