Empty Properties in Havering
In Havering there are at any one time around 1500 empty properties which have been empty for 6 months or more. These homes are a wasted resource which could be used to house families who urgently need accommodation especially as there is a national shortage of affordable homes. Empty properties also can become a target for crime, vandalism, rodents, fly tipping, squatters and reduces the value of surrounding properties.
Report an Empty Property
If you own or know of an empty property in Havering you can tell us about it using the online form
What are we doing about Empty Properties?
The Empty Property Team has been working to bring empty properties back into use by tracing the owners and then meeting and writing to them to offer advice and assistance on how to bring their properties back into use. This includes providing information on Empty Property Grants and other options such as letting the property through the Council Private Sector Leasing Scheme or through a letting agent.
If the owner refuses to bring the property back into use then there are a number of enforcement actions that the council can consider using such as Enforced Sales and Compulsory Purchase Orders.
Empty Property Grants
Empty Property Grants are available to property owners which has been empty for a year or longer and in disrepair. The grant will cover the cost of improvements and repairs to bring the property up to a decent homes standard to make it suitable for occupation. The amount of grant available is normally limited to a maximum of £25,000 per unit although available funds are limited.
There are certain conditions attached to the grant and the property must be let for a minimum period of three years after work is completed. For full details please contact the Empty Property Team on 01708 432785
Or click here to download an Empty Property Grant Information Leaflet.
Compulsory Purchase Orders
Where an owner is not cooperating with the Council and has either no intention of bringing the empty property back into use and it is causing a nuisance to the neighbours the Council if necessary will use it’s Compulsory Purchase Powers.
The Empty Property Team have recently obtained approval to use these powers targeting a number of long term empty properties in the borough including some that are in a serious state of disrepair. In all of these cases the Team have tried every other option of getting the property back to use but the owner has refused to cooperate. The Council are currently taking legal action against a number of properties which will result in the Council taking ownership of the property. The property is then sold allowing it to be brought back into use.