Council wants unused homes for housing shortage

Local TV

Newport currently has over 9000 people on the housing register, despite there being at least 2500 homes currently unused in the city. The council want to help landlords get their homes back in use to help ease the problems.

Transcript

00:00Newport City Council says it wants to work more closely with owners of empty homes in

00:06an effort to help tackle the city's growing housing pressures.

00:11The council has approved a new empty home strategy aimed at restoring thousands of properties

00:15that currently sit vacant across the city.

00:18Officials say that at any given time around 3% of Newport's housing stock, nearly 2,500

00:23homes, is empty despite more than 9,000 people being on the housing register.

00:30Cabinet Member for Housing Councillor Syed Adhan says the strategy is about raising the

00:34profile of the issue and encouraging owners to bring properties back into use.

00:39He describes the approach as a mix of support and enforcement, carrot and stick model.

00:44The first step will be a collaboration.

00:47Council officers will contact owners and offer the different types of help available, including

00:51interest-free loans to renovate properties.

00:54Councillor Adhan says the goal is to encourage owners to keep properties occupied, but he

00:58also warns that enforcement will be used where necessary.

01:03That could include a 100% council tax premium on long-term empty homes, effectively doubling

01:08the bill, along with the option of legal notices or even compulsory purchase orders for the most

01:13serious cases.

01:15The council stresses it would rather work with owners than punishment.

01:18As Councillor Adhan put it, it's not just about the bricks and mortar, it's about the people.

01:23He says the council doesn't want to see homes sitting empty, while families remain in a

01:27temporary accommodation.

01:29The council hopes that they bring more homes back onto the market.

01:32The strategy will make a meaningful contribution towards easing demand, improving neighbourhoods

01:36and helping more people find long-term, stable housing in Newport.

01:40James Beach Watkins, reporting for Local TV.

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