Over 1,300 empty properties counted in SWT amid 'housing crisis'

The chief executive of housing charity Shelter has said it is frustrating to see properties sitting empty across the country "when so many people are in desperate need of a safe and secure home".

Figures from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show that were at least 1,342 empty homes in the local authority area at the most recent count in October.

Empty homes are unoccupied and unfurnished dwellings.  

Of these, 758 have been empty for more than six months, and at least 162 have been abandoned for more than two years.

The number of empty homes in the district has fallen by 22% from last year, when the figure stood at 1,717.

According to the figures, there were 1,271 dwellings in the district listed as second homes last month.

The data covers properties that are subject to council tax.

Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT)'s Private Sector Housing team has outlined the measures it is undertaking to reduce the number of empty houses in the district.

This includes employing a dedicated empty homes office since July 2015, initially on a part-time basis until the role became full-time in March 2019.

LOCAL AUTHORITY: At least 162 homes in Somerset West and Taunton have been empty for more than two years

The empty homes officer works with owners to bring empty properties back into use by offering information, advice and guidance; fields calls from neighbours of empty homes, and liaises with Environmental Health and Building Control to seek a resolution. 

The council also said "letters, calls and emails are targeted at empty homeowners who remain on the council tax empty homes list", and added it is committed to producing an empty property review form every summer to gather data for the Council Tax Base return in October. 

The Private Sector Housing team also "works closely with Lendology to offer loans to empty homes owners and with Home First Plus to offer licensing agreements"; "promotes the empty homes service through press releases, networking at empty homes events, maintaining and updating the empty homes web page and engaging with members of the general public", and "identifies and applies any new opportunities from relevant new and existing legislation regarding enforcement options".

When a property remains empty for a significant amount of time, a number of "last resort" enforcement options can be used by the council.

This includes enforced sales, issuing Compulsory Purchase Orders, and issuing Empty Dwelling Management Orders.  

The Local Government Association (LGA) has called on the Government to give local authorities greater powers to acquire empty homes.

A spokesperson for the LGA, which represents local councils, said: "At a time when we face a chronic housing shortage across the country and high levels of homelessness, it is wrong for so many homes to be left empty."

Across the UK, the number of empty homes fell by 2% to 468,000, while the number of second homes dropped by 4% to 253,000 after rising by the same percentage in October 2020.

Owners of properties that have been empty for two or more years can be charged an extra 100% council tax on top of their bill – rising to as much as 300% if the home has been empty for a decade or longer.

Nationally, around 72,000 dwellings were subject to a council tax premium in October, around a fifth of which had been abandoned for between five and 10 years and 10% for more than a decade.

In 2020-21, councils across the country identified more than 268,000 households as homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said more should be done to put empty homes back into use.

She added: "Even if we filled every one of these empty properties, we still wouldn't have solved the chronic housing shortage we face.

"The only way to solve the housing crisis is to build a new generation of green social housing."

"CHRONIC HOUSING SHORTAGE":Councils have identified more than 268,000 households as homeless or at risk of homelessness (Image: Yui Mok, PA Wire)

In line with its accommodation strategy and delivery plan - adopted by full council in October - SWT is "fully committed to ending homelessness in our district by 2027".

A spokesperson for the council said: "As a response to the Government's 'Everyone In' directive, we have worked in partnership with the YMCA to create emergency accommodation at Canonsgrove, Trull, which has been successful in temporarily housing up to 58 people safely at any one time. 

"We have successfully secured Government funding through various bids to secure Gascony House in Minehead and some Housing First accommodation in Taunton, as well as being able to employ two floating support officers to facilitate a long-lasting and successful 'move-on' of tenants from supported accommodation to independent living.

"We also have a dedicated Rough Sleeper team providing outreach services within the community and working with partnership agencies to support rough sleepers into accommodation.

"Our Homelessness team is very much focused on preventing homelessness through early intervention and works proactively with our floating support officers and Private Rented Sector team, who work to either retain current, or source suitable alternative accommodation.

"In an effort to make our services more accessible, we have recently enabled homeless applications to be made online and with support if necessary." 

SUPPORT STRATEGY: SWT has outlined its aim to end homelessness in the district by 2027 (Image: Nick Ansell, PA Wire)

A Government spokesman said more than 243,000 new homes were delivered last year, and the number of empty homes had fallen by 30,000 since 2010.

He said: "We have taken significant action to prevent empty homes.

"This includes giving councils stronger powers to increase council tax on empty homes and take over their management and introducing higher rates of stamp duty and tightening tax rules for second homes."

The Government’s £12.2 billion Affordable Homes Programme was announced in last year's Budget. 

The programme will be delivered over five years from 2021 to 2026.