EMPTY HOMES
NEWSLETTER 2016 : ISSUE 5
Welcome to the 2016 edition
Stratford-on-Avon District Council is happy to present the latest edition of the Empty
Homes Newsletter.
The Newsletter is packed with useful advice and information for empty homes owners
who are undecided what to do with their properties. It provides updates on changes in
legislation for seasoned landlords and empty homes owners who may be considering
renting out their properties for the first time. There are progress reports on current
projects and news on forthcoming ventures.
Sheree Johansen, Empty Properties Officer is available Monday to Friday to discuss
the various ways the Council may be able to help and support anyone who owns,
or has been affected by the impact of empty properties in their area. For further
information or an informal discussion, please call 01789 260866 or email
[email protected] or [email protected]
Councillor Robert Vaudrey
Housing and Infrastructure
Portfolio Holder
Ace of Spades….!
Residents of Whitley Road, Henley-in-Arden
will be delighted to see that building works on
the former Ace Convenience Stores have now
commenced.
The property had stood empty for several years and been the
subject of numerous complaints from the local community.
The appearance of the property was shabby and run down
and had a detrimental impact of the neighbourhood.
Converting the property into residential use will have
a positive impact on the local environment and help the
Council address the current housing need and demand by
increasing the housing stock.
“My wife and I purchased the lease to the shop in the
summer of 1988, through hard work over the next two years
we turned the business round and continued to increase
the turnover each year. In the year 2000 we decided it was
time to retire and we put the shop up for sale as a going
concern.
The closure of the shop in 2004 was a major shock not only
to the local residents; the shop had regular customers from
neighbouring villages as well.
Mr Chris Hurst, a local property developer, purchased the
property in 2013 and has now teamed up with Stratford -onAvon District Council to convert the premises into two flats
with completion anticipated next autumn.
Following discussions with Sheree Johansen, Empty
Property Officer at the Council, Mr Hurst expressed an
interest in working with them and was offered an Empty
Property Assistance Grant towards the cost of the
conversion.
The most serious impact the empty shop had was on
number 34 Whitley Road, because of the state of the
shop and ground around it
potential buyers were
put off purchasing it; this
resulted in the sellers
having to seriously
reduce the price.”
Local resident of Whitley
Road, Mr Chris Milsom
www.stratford.gov.uk/housing/empty-homes.cfm
NEWSLETTER 2016
National Empty Homes Week 28 November to 2 December 2016
Stratford to welcome
refugees
The District Council has committed to resettle 12 refugee families as part
of the national scheme announced by David Cameron in late 2015. Since
then, we have been working with the County Council, other Districts and
Boroughs in Warwickshire, the local voluntary and community sector and
the West Midlands Strategic Migration Partnership to prepare for their
arrival. This work has been time consuming and slower than hoped, but
nevertheless it is essential in securing the very best outcomes in terms of
support and assimilation into the local community.
Syrian refugees –
Can you help?
Properties wanted for families or individuals being relocated
through the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme.
Properties are required in Stratford District in November
2016 & Warwick District in January 2017.
•
Funding available to cover up to two months void period before
occupation.
•
All sizes of property considered, they must be self-contained.
•
Families will have documentation confirming permission to reside
in the UK for 5 years.
•
Landlords & Tenants will receive support and advice during the
tenancy.
Fact
Analysis suggests that England
needs between 240,000 –
250,000 additional new homes
every year to meet the newly
increasing housing demand,
with one third of these to be
below market prices and rents.
Can you help?
There is currently a serious housing
shortage in Stratford District and
problems of overcrowding and
homelessness are contributed to by
empty properties.
Stratford-on-Avon District Council
is committed to finding solutions
to address the long term housing
problem and local people have an
important role to play.
With your support, the Council can
reduce the number of people being
placed in Bed and Breakfast and offer
single people and families a more
stable future.
The Council may be able to offer
financial
assistance
towards
renovation costs to bring empty
properties back into residential use.
They also have a Partner Agency
who can appoint a managing agent
to manage the property on the
owner’s behalf and deal with issues
such as ensuring rent is paid,
repairs and general maintenance.
Bringing your empty property back
into use will have a positive impact on
the local environment. It will help the
Council address the current housing
need and demand and help to support
a sustainable community by increasing
the housing stock.
Warwick District enquiries – [email protected] or 01926 456358
Stratford District enquiries – [email protected] or 01789 260112
For further details, please contact:
Sheree Johansen, Empty Properties
Officer on 01789 260866 or email
[email protected]
www.stratford.gov.uk/housing/empty-homes.cfm
NEWSLETTER 2016
National Empty Homes Week 28 November to 2 December 2016
Number and percentage of
homes empty by region
Region
Number of
Dwellings
Number Percentage
of Empty
of Empty
Dwellings Dwellings
Total number of empty
homes by Local
Authority 2015
3,000 or more
North East
1,205,096
40,784
3.38%
1,500 to 3000
North West
3,214,592
105,698
3.29%
Yorkshire
and Humber
2,371,671
74,841
3.16%
Stratford-on-Avon District
1,500 to 3000
East
Midlands
2,031,486
54,270
2.67%
West
Midlands
2,431,906
63,181
2.60%
South West
2,480,287
61,711
2.49%
East of
England
2,611,870
57,336
2.20%
South East
3,800,138
82,477
2.17%
London
3,504,507
59,881
1.71%
England
23,651,553
600,179
2.54%
Up to 1,500
Fact
In areas where the housing market is buoyant
with rising house prices, the level of empty
homes may be linked to buy-to-leave. People
are purchasing properties not to be used as
homes but as a safe store of value and in
anticipation of a high capital gain when the
properties are sold.
Contains Ordnance Survey data
© Crown Copyright and database rights 2016
www.stratford.gov.uk/housing/empty-homes.cfm
NEWSLETTER 2016
National Empty Homes Week 28 November to 2 December 2016
Have you thought of everything?
Being a good landlord means ensuring that the property
you rent out is safe.
You will have your gas safety certificate, an energy performance certificate
(EPC), smoke detectors, a carbon monoxide detector/s (if required), plus
an electricity installation safety certificate.
You will probably do a risk assessment of the property before you let it out,
but have you thought of everything?
Have you checked the legality of your tenant/s with regards to ‘Right to
Rent’ and their immigration status?
Were you also aware that:• Two small children died as a result of being strangled by the excess
cords on window blinds?
• Legionella bacteria, which can cause ‘Legionnaires’ disease, can be a
problem in HMO’s? (Houses of Multiple Occupation)
• The wrong connections of washing machines/dishwashers, baths/
showers and WC’s can cause water pollution, which may earn you a
fine of up to £20,000.
Useful contacts in
Stratford-on-Avon District
Council
Web: www.stratford.gov.uk
Empty Property Officer
Sheree Johansen
Tel: 01789 260866
Email: [email protected]
Housing Standards Officer
Peter Chatfield
Tel: 01789 260121
Email: [email protected]
Council Tax Enquiries
Tel: 01789 260990
Email: [email protected]
Building Control Enquiries
Tel: 01789 260626
Email: [email protected]
Planning Enquiries
Tel: 01789 260304
Email:
[email protected]
Secure • Flexible • Managed
Ad Hoc are specialists in vacant property
management.
Do you have an empty property?
Warwickshire Reminiscence Action
Project (WRAP) is looking to rent a
property in the District, which offers
office space for several desks and some
storage.
WRAP supports people living with
dementia and their carers; currently
based in Bidford they need to vacate
their current premises by the end of
October.
The charity is a lifeline for many people
in the district living with dementia or
caring for someone with the condition.
If you can help identify suitable premises
for WRAP please contact
Mike Strophair on 07803729894 or
[email protected]
• Secure your home with responsible live-in
guardians
• Have your bills paid
• Ensure leaks and other repairs don’t go
unnoticed
• Enhance your property value by having the
property kept in a habitable state
• Deter ASB, theft and vandalism. Empty
properties attract all those things!
• Flexible periods of management, often
free of charge!
• Assistance getting the property into a
habitable condition
Property Guardians are responsible, working
individuals who will reside in your property
on a flexible basis and ensure your property
is protected! Call or email us to learn more:
0121 773 8116
[email protected]
www.adhocproperty.co.uk
Other useful contacts
Empty Homes
Tel: 020 3135 0674
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.emptyhomes.com
Midland Landlord Accreditation
Scheme
Tel: 0121 288 2008
Mob: 07577 109690
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.mlas.org.uk
HM Revenues & Customs: VAT
Tel: 0300 200 3700
Web: www.hmrc.gov.uk/VAT
Valuation Office
Tel: 03000 501501
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.voa.gov.uk
Property Guardians : Alarms : CCTV : Static Guards
Follow us on Twitter @StratfordDC
www.stratford.gov.uk/housing/empty-homes.cfm