WAS this one of the worst-kept property in Grimsby?
These before and after photographs show just how bad a state some private landlords allow their properties to fall into, and it took a staggering five years for it to be fixed.
But there is a happy ending to this property, located on a housing estate in Grimsby. Last month, a tenant moved in at last – after the property first came to the attention of the authorities in 2008.
There are 71,000 homes in the borough and currently 1,030 (1.77 per cent) have been empty for longer than six months.
This case in central Grimsby has been highlighted as part of Empty Homes Week, a nationwide awareness campaign, which ends today, to improve accommodation standards. The home first came to the council's attention in October 2008, when the Community Pride team raised the alarm.
It was the start of a long process involving many organisations and saw officers attempting, several times, to work with the owner.
The owner broke promises and enforced sale proceedings began – and while it remained empty, the house began to attract vandals.
The council eventually forced the sale of the property to a new owner, who appointed an agent, and extensive refurbishment took place.
At last, in October 2013, new tenants moved into a smart family home.
Debbie Fagan, service manager for strategic housing at NELC, said: "This example demonstrates the complex nature of the issue of empty homes in the area.
"Not all cases are like this as often we can track the owner down and support them to bring the property back into use, but this is an example of one which was a lengthier process and required us to work with a number of partner organisations to develop a solution to see this property and others brought back into use, which is great for the area, the new tenants and the surrounding communities."
According to North East Lincolnshire Council, they are empty for a variety of reasons. Relatives may have passed away, the house may need repairing from previous tenants, a property may have been repossessed or the homeowner may be receiving residential care.
Empty homes are believed to contribute to poor environmental, social and economic conditions, which can then discourage investment and have a negative impact in neighbourhoods.
This is why the council, in partnership with Balfour Beatty Workplace, is offering solutions to the issue.
Councillor Oxby, portfolio holder for environment and housing at NELC, said: "There is action which can be taken by residents and businesses to do something about empty properties in their area, and there is financial support individuals can access to invest into these properties.
"I am keen for our residents to feel a sense of pride in the area they live and we can assist communities to achieve this with a number of measures. Particularly important, though, is my message to encourage people to get in touch with us to see what help and support we could do to address this urban blight."
Here is a timeline of how the property on the Grimsby housing estate was dealt with: October 2008: Property first came to attention of the Community Pride team, who issued boarding-up instructions. April 2009: Reported by PCSO as being open to access again. Notices were served by Empty Homes Team (EHT) on the owner. May 2009: Boarded in default. June 2009: Open to access again. There were repeated problems with security but the owner appeared to be engaging with Empty Homes Team by November 2009. July 2010: The owner didn't progress with works and the team had to instruct further board-ups in July and September 2010 before steel shuttering was erected in October 2010. March 2011: Youths were using the porch to gain access through the roof. December 2011: North East Lincolnshire Council began legal action to recover costs through an enforced sale. May 2012: A contractor was instructed to cover openings with breeze blocks to prevent youths gaining access. The council agreed to proceed with formal action, forcing the property to be sold. July 2012: The owner appointed a legal representative and managing agent. The team was also made aware that the owner had other properties in the area, some of which were also empty. The team worked with the owner's legal representative to agree a plan where all the properties would be brought back into use. Legal action was deferred. Christmas 2012: The property remained vandal-free until just before Christmas but when onsite security left for the holiday, the property was subjected to further vandalism. Additional pressure on the owner's managing agent by the Empty Homes Team resolved the security issues in January 2013. January 2013: The property underwent long period of refurbishment. The team had to put further pressure on the owner to maintain timescales. October 2013: The property was finally reoccupied almost five years to the day it first came to the Empty Home Team's attention. Most of other properties in the portfolio underwent renovation and refurbishment and many of the other long-term empty properties within the portfolio of the same owner are now back into use.
Details from the council about initiatives available to reduce the number of empty properties in the area According to recent Government statistics there are 709,426 empty properties in England. About one third of these, around 260,000, (1% of all houses)have been empty for six months or more. The vast majority of the empty properties in England are in the private sector with just under 10% being local authority owned. The local Empty Homes Team can help owners of properties understand their options about the different choices they have about returning a property to use. Where owners don't engage, the Council takes a firm but fair approach and can take legal action. Owners have a responsibility to keep an empty property in a reasonable condition. We can take action to ensure the property is sold using our Enforced Sale powers or we could issue a Compulsory Purchase Order. We will work together with owners to minimise the effect of empty homes for the residents and communities of North East Lincolnshire. This can all take long time to return a home to use whether the Council is taking legal action or not. The Council's Empty Homes Team works closely with the Police and Fire Services if properties are causing repeated nuisance. A range of other organisations have also been successful in obtaining funding to return empty homes to use in North East Lincolnshire. As previously reported, Doorstep recently received £650k from the Department for Communities and Local Government's (DCLG) Empty Homes Fund to renovate ten empty homes to accommodate young people. This is real investment into the area's empty homes problem and will have a positive impact on the people who will move into the properties and the households around them. What initiatives are on offer to reduce the number of empty properties in North East Lincolnshire? There are a number of initiatives available to offer financial assistance and support on both the reporting and enforcement of empty properties and the associated implications. These are on offer to future owner occupiers as well as existing vacant property owners, presenting the opportunity to refurbish and repair properties which have a significant and negative impact on the neighbourhood. Empty Homes Loans Interest Free Homes Loans are available for owners to help them repair and improve residential properties up to the Decent Homes Standard and make them available for rent. The refurbishment loans available are interest-free and the team can offer help and advice on accessing these and eligibility. Interest free loans may be available too if you are an existing landlord with an empty property, which requires repairs, improvement or conversion. Empty Homes Grants We also offer Empty Homes Grants which are only available to future owner occupiers and provide financial assistance of up to £12,000 (less fees) to enable the owner to bring a property up to decent homes standard which is within the Council Tax Band A or Band B. If you would like more details on Empty Homes Loans or Grants then please call 01472 324776 to have a chat with an officer to see what may benefit you and if you are eligible to apply for this grant. How can I report an empty property? If there is a property in your neighbourhood which you believe to be empty or the condition is causing you and neighbours concern then you can do something about it. Please call the Empty Homes Team on 01472 324776 or complete the online form which can be found on the Council's website to report the property. We will then track down and contact the owner of that property to discuss what we can do to help bring the property back into use. If they do not want to accept our help or take any action this is when the Council would then look to take legal action. What can I do if I own an empty home but I am not sure what to do with it? If you own an empty home, the Council's Empty Homes Team are available to help you understand the different ways you can return the property to use. There are many different things you can do. We can help you access money to renovate your home, we could advise on how you could become a small scale landlord and privately rent your property, we could even help you lease your property to an organisation who would manage the tenancy on your behalf. Or we could just advise you about how to put your home on the market. The key to this is you talking to us about your property and we can explain the different options.Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
