Buoyed by success, campaign lands on prime minister’s desk
Three demands, 11 weeks, 380 backers. Inside Housing’s Empty Promise campaign to tackle empty homes ended this week with a trip to Number 10 Downing Street.
As we delivered our petition to the prime minister, the campaign was well on its way to victory.
The campaign had its first success when housing minister Margaret Beckett granted the demand for more guidance to help councils get empty dwelling management orders off the ground.
And the Homes and Communities Agency has agreed to trial allocating grant to bring homes back into use in north London. Success there could see the scheme go nationwide - and a second demand ticked off the list.
Thirdly, there’s progress on our final ask: VAT cut to 5 per cent on repairs and renovations. In February European MPs voted to allow member states to reduce tax on repairs and renovations. The UK Treasury can no longer hide behind its excuse that a 5 per cent rate here would violate European law. The ball is now in chancellor Alistair Darling’s court: next week’s Budget is his opportunity to make this change.
Perhaps Mr Darling should listen to junior housing minister Iain Wright. ‘We strongly agree that empty homes blight local neighbourhoods and can attract anti-social behaviour, which is why we welcome Inside Housing’s campaign,’ he said.
Mr Wright is to meet councils later this month ‘to encourage them to take firm action on empty properties’.
Henry Oliver, policy officer at the Empty Homes Agency, said the campaign had had ‘a galvanising effect on the sector’.
‘You’ve helped increase political pressure for action,’ he added.
EHA chief executive David Ireland, confirmed the agency would keep pushing the demands, starting with a meeting with HCA boss Sir Bob Kerslake next week.
Jeremy Swain, chief executive of homelessness charity Thames Reach, was especially pleased with Empty Promise’s pragmatic approach.
‘What is gratifying about this campaign is its determination to offer practical solutions, avoiding the shrill “something must be done” approach,’ he said.
The campaign may be over but the fight goes on. EHA is still predicting there will be 1 million empty homes in the UK before the year is out. There are still more than 2 million families on waiting lists, with more households joining them as repossessions continue to rise towards the 75,000 foreclosures predicted for 2009 by the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
Inside Housing will continue to report on efforts to tackle empty homes. All that remains is to thank our supporters.
The Empty Promise success story
30 January
Empty Promise campaign launches with news that the number of empty homes in the UK could soar to 1 million this year. Three demands aim to help landlords bring properties back into use.
6 February
As support builds, the Conservative Party throws its weight behind Empty Promise. Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps ‘warmly welcomes’ the campaign.
13 February
Inside Housing’s mail bag is weighed down with letters pledging support and highlighting examples of good practice.
20 February
Ministers face increasing pressure to act on empty homes as the Liberal Democrats join our fight. ‘It’s time to stop seeing empty homes as a blight… but as an opportunity,’ says housing spokesperson Sarah Teather.
In just three weeks the campaign has attracted 150 backers.
27 February
Empty Promise gets a huge boost as MEPs vote overwhelmingly for VAT cuts on building and repair and maintenance. The UK government can no longer argue that European rules prevent such a reduction.
6 March
Importance of demand for more guidance on empty dwelling management orders underlined as official figures reveal the power has been used just 17 times in three years.
13 March
One down, three to go, as housing minister Margaret Beckett grants third campaign demand, backing a new step-by-step guide to using EDMOs. She tells Inside Housing that our call for grant to refurbish empty homes is ‘an interesting idea’.
Empty Promise has almost 300 supporters.
20 March
More encouraging signs that the campaign’s grant demand could be met. ‘We are looking at whether we can spend some of the NAHP on that,’ says Homes and Communities Agency director Trevor Beattie.
Empty Promise supporters break the 300 mark.
27 March
Mr Beattie unveils HCA plans to trial allocating grant to tackle empty homes in north London.
The government approves a £22 million plan to tackle empty homes in the capital.
14 April
Inside Housing delivers Empty Promise petition to Number 10 Downing Street. Each signatory will receive a written response from the government.
More than 380 people have pledged their support.
17 April
Junior housing minister Iain Wright tells Inside Housing he will meet councils later this month ‘to encourage them to take firm action on empty properties’.
