Councils are being given more support to help them bring empty homes back in to use in the current economic climate, recently announced Margaret Beckett, housing minister.

New guidance is being published with the Empty Homes Agency, setting out the range of strengthened powers local authorities have to deal with the problem of empty homes, including the use of Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs).

While the number of long term empty homes has fallen by -9% over the last decade, Beckett is calling on councils to take firmer action to tackle the blight of empty homes and re-use properties. This could provide a significant contribution to housing supply with new house building falling right now.

Beckett said: “Empty homes blight local neighbourhoods and can potentially attract anti-social behaviour. That is why councils must do all they can to bring empty homes in their area back into use. I believe that with an increased focus and more consistent approach we can bring more homes back into use. With house building slowing in the current economic climate, that is more important than ever.

“The new guidance helps strengthen the role of councils by setting out the broad powers they have to deal with empty homes, and is part of the range of actions we are taking to support the regeneration of our towns and cities.”

Empty homes not only restrict housing supply, poorly maintained empty properties attract vermin, cause damp and other problems for neighbouring properties. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) also estimates that properties adjoining poorly maintained empty properties can be devalued by as much as -18%.