Kristen Hubert National Manager We exist to promote and enable private sector empty homes to be brought back into use We are funded by the Scottish Government and housed by Shelter Scotland ID: 476170
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Slide1
Tackling Rural Empty Homes
Kristen HubertNational ManagerSlide2
We exist to promote and enable private sector empty homes
to be brought back into use.
We are funded by the Scottish Government and
housed by Shelter Scotland.Slide3Slide4Slide5
Flytipping/Vandalism
Safety concerns
Loss of amenity & community wellbeing
Costs to owners; neighbours &local services
Wasted asset that could revitalise a rural community.Slide6Slide7Slide8Slide9
Time Empty: 2 years & 1 month
The main reason the property was empty was because the owner had rented the property out and after the last tenant left it fell into serious disrepair. The
Empty Homes Officer got in touch and gave
advice on renovation, VAT discounts
and builders merchants discounts
which helped the owner decide
to use a local builder to renovate the house.
The
owner was delighted with the completed renovation and his son has moved into the property. Now instead of the property being an eyesore in the community the family has the benefit of a fully insulated house with an efficient heating system and an upstairs extension.
Outcome:
As a result, the property was: Owner/family member occupied in Mar-15
Case study details supplied by Katrina Morrison, Vacant Property Support Assistant, Perth and Kinross Council Slide10
Empty since 2006
This
property is located in
a remote
Island
settlement on Mull. The
Empty Homes Officer engaged with the new owner
of this property that had fallen into serious disrepair to
look at options to bring the house back into use.
The owner was keen from the start to ensure that they provided affordable housing and a sustainable property for new tenants. Due to the remote location and no social housing waiting lists to ascertain demand for rented housing, a marketing exercise was undertaken to identify if there would be anyone interested in renting on completion of works. This provided to be a worthwhile exercise and there was a lot of interest from potential tenants which provided the owner with the assurance that they would be able to secure a tenant on completion of works.
Due to the length of time the house had been empty the owners were eligible for reduced VAT rate of 5% which helped reduced renovation costs.
Outcome:
Renovation
works were undertaken and the new tenant moved into the house in May 2015 and has expressed how happy she is with the property
.
Details provided by Kelly Ferns, Empty Homes Officer Argyll & Bute Council.Slide11Slide12Slide13
Training &
Best Practice
Empty Homes
Advice Service
Local Project Support
Shared Service Incubator Projects
Raising Awareness
Policy RecommendationsSlide14Slide15
Since the launch the Empty Homes Advice Service there have been over 250 enquiries including complaints about properties and requests for help from empty home owners.
Where a local service exists a referral is made.
Where a local service doesn’t exist the Empty Homes Adviser tries to pursue case work to demonstrate what is possible.Slide16
The owner had lived in the property
for
decades.
No routine maintenance.
Improvement
notices
enforced
Closing
order
enforced and elderly
owner
rehoused with
a sheltered, council
tenancy.
LA
prepared a case for CPO
in 2012
but this stalled and the case was left dormant for about 3 years
.
The Empty Homes Advisor was asked for help on this case from the new empty homes lead at the council.
The property
was now causing water ingress and damage to neighbours’ properties and causing significant reduction of amenity in
a high
demand housing area.
A number of
escalated complaints from neighbours and the LA was considering recommending CPO
again.Slide17
EHA
established a positive working relationship with the
owner,
agreed regular contact and information
sharing.
E
HA worked with
the
owner and the council officer to
promote his understanding of the current situation
by helping to arrange architects and builders quotes and go through the
range of options available to
him.
Owner having difficulty making decisions so the EHA referred him to a local advocacy project for older people who provided him with the additional time required to help the owner make informed decisions.
As
a result of
these interventions,
the owner made a decision that selling the property prior to refurbishment would be his preferred outcome.
The
property exchanged in late Jan 2016. The new owner intends to renovate it for sale.
Supporting
the owners to face up to the problems caused by his property and then to obtain realistic information about what the options were led to the owner being able to agree
a way forward. He is now being supported to integrate into the community.
Total engagement time approx. 6 months.Slide18
The council involved in this case is now considering developing their own empty homes service.Slide19
The Local Project Service aims to assist multi-unit empty homes projects to come to fruition.
Ideas
Making connections
Funding & funding bids
Developing project plans
Sounding board & assistance from start to finish.
Local Projects ServiceSlide20
Who is the local projects service for?
Local authorities
RSLs
Developers
Community Groups (doesn’t need to be multi-unit)
Social Enterprises
Any setting
Any empty private property intended for residential end use.Slide21
Current project
Dreadnought Hotel, Bathgate
Former hotel, empty for over 8 years
Joint project between Council and RSL
Made connections and provided ideas for use
Produced project plan
In the process of being acquired by the council and leased to RSL to let/manage the tenancies
8 units for affordable rent, out of one empty property, due in autumn 2016Slide22
Current project
Common Weal, Moray
Community group working principally in Forres
Intention to bring empty homes back into use in area where need is great and supply is not
Showed examples of previous, similar projects
Helped make connections to people with expertise who helped, including at local authority
Sought out potential sources of funding, and helped with funding applications
Properties due to come back into use summer 2016Slide23
Social Finance
One off bid funds
Rural Housing Fund
Council Loans & Grants
Shared Services FundingSlide24
Helensburgh
, Argyll & ButeSlide25Slide26
Contacts:
Kristen Hubert 0344 515 2461
kristen_hubert@shelter.org.uk
Empty Homes Advice Service
Local Projects Support
0344 515 1941 0344 515 2237
emptyhomes@shelter.org.uk
gavin_leask@shelter.org.uk