Turning empty properties into affordable homes for local people

Local residents have moved into new homes after a large derelict property in Stratford was transformed this year into three affordable homes specifically for Stratford people who are not in a position to afford Stratford's high market rents.

The project is an exemplar model in partnership working involving Stratford District Council; the owner: Mr Richard Webber; the Architectural Services: architectural drawings and services provided by Frank & Liz Price from Frank Price Architectural, and the company that carried out the works: Warwickshire Essential Developments Ltd.

Councillor Maurice Howse, Portfolio Holder whose responsibilities include this area of the Council's work, will meet with the other partners at the property in Birmingham Road this Thursday to discuss with them how any lessons learnt from the experience could be used to improve such partnership working in the future.

Councillor Howse, Enterprise, Housing & Revenues Portfolio Holder says: “With 5,000 households waiting for housing in the Stratford District, returning its mostly privately owned 700 empty properties to use, would go a long way towards meeting this demand and our Empty Homes Assistance Grant scheme is just one of a range of measures we are using to achieve this."  

This latest success for the District Council's Empty Homes Team, Carol Roberts and Val Harris, is part of a wider grants initiative which is designed to increase affordable housing in the District. At the same time, it is helping communities affected by the negative effects of empty and derelict properties.

Other successful project partnerships have been established in Studley and Southam. Nine homes of varying sizes are already complete and two more are expected to be occupied by the end of summer.

Revised and approved by the Cabinet in July, the Council's Empty Homes Strategy paves the way for a broader range of support to be provided to return empty homes to use and provide even better value for money. With a record number of people in need of affordable rented housing in the district, the Council will also be working to improve standards for residential tenants and lodgers. So, in addition to developing the Council's funding programme, there will be more emphasis on providing training and accreditation for the District's Landlords and Letting Agents to improve their understanding of their legal responsibilities under the Housing Act 2004.

Owners of empty properties, Landlords or Letting agents who would like further information and guidance about the range of advice and support that the Council can offer them can contact the Empty Homes Team: either Carol Roberts or Val Harris, at Stratford District Council on 01789 260866 or email psht@stratford-dc.gov.uk.