Stratford District has over 600 privately owned homes standing disused or empty across the District. If you own an empty home, you will know that it is an asset at risk and it should be making you money rather than costing you money.
Stratford-on-Avon District Council is committed to tackling the issue of empty homes and has produced a strategy to direct how it achieves this, called 'From empty houses... to new homes'.
The Empty Homes strategy outlines the Council's objectives which are:
- to establish how many empty homes there are across the District;
- to develop the most effective way to bring empty homes back into use and
- to create quality, affordable housing from these empty properties, for those in housing need.
Many of these homes have been empty for over 6 months; acting as a magnet for crime and anti-social behaviour including squatters, vandalism, arson and rubbish dumping, becoming eyesores and potentially devaluing neighbouring properties by up to 18%.
The Empty Homes Officer at Stratford-on-Avon District Council can provide advice and support to owners of empty properties to find a solution to bring them back into use.
Councillor Stephen Gray, Revenues and Housing Portfolio Holder said: "We are committed to providing many types of accommodation in Stratford District in a range of ways. Empty homes are a wasted resource, particularly in areas like ours where demand for housing is high. Nobody wants to have empty housing next to them, especially when the owner is not taking responsibility for maintenance. In Stratford District we want to be proactive and ensure that neglected, long term empty properties are bought back to the housing market for the benefit of the local community."
If you know of an empty home you can report it to the Empty Homes Officer at Stratford-on Avon District Council detailing any problems that may be affecting you or your community.
Please contact Carol Roberts, Empty Homes Officer at Stratford District Council on 01789 260866 or email carol.roberts@stratford-dc.gov.uk for further information or to report an empty home.
