Wales to act on empty homes
The Chartered Institute of Housing in Wales and Shelter Cymru have published guidance on how councils can reduce the number of empty homes in Wales.
The briefing paper notes the Welsh government is likely to make tackling empty homes a key factor in the future.
‘At least 26,000 homes in private hands have been empty for over six months in Wales, with this number likely to rise significantly,’ the report says.
‘Though empty properties are not the whole answer to the housing crisis, government and local authorities cannot ignore their potential.’
The move follows Inside Housing’s Empty Promise campaign earlier this year, which called on the UK government to issue clearer guidance to help councils use Empty Dwelling Management Orders.
The new Welsh guidance says the Welsh Assembly is now gathering information from local authorities on empty homes and the measures they are taking to tackle the problems.
The CIH and Shelter guidance also makes suggestions for landlords, such as producing actions plans and conduct an empty property survey.
