Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Nick Pritchard-Gordon Empty Homes Officer. Reading BC
Vice Chair. Empty Homes Network
LOCAL AUTHORITY
EMPTY HOMES WORK
CAMELOT CONFERENCE 2014
THE EMPTY HOMES NETWORK
WEB-BASED
On-line forums to share experience
Extensive information library
Legislation, templates, best practice
Practitioner Guides
Weekly News stories
2
TOP DOWN SINCE MAY 2010
1ST National Empty Homes Strategy,
New Homes Bonus for empty homes,
Capital Funding,
Reform of Council Tax,
Criminalisation of Squatting.
Reform of EDMO
ATED
Serious Government commitment.
COUNCIL RESOURCES FOR EH WORK
Practitioners often a sole operator using skills from other teams. Council Tax. Valuations.
Regulatory Services. Legal. Housing Enabling.
Environmental Health.
DEPENDS on local priorities and style. Host
team. Skill set of the practitioner.
Berkshire Empties Group. 6 UAs=2.3 FTE
practitioners
4
READING
BOTTOM UP
5
READING BC – ‘ENABLING’
WE TARGET THE MOST COMPLEX CASES.
£10K discretionary empty home grant
Flexible Home Improvement Loans
2 x HCA-funded Leasing Schemes
Trusted trades
VAT Relief letters.
CT correction.
Helping developers/investors
6
READING BC – ‘ENFORCEMENT’
Standard LA ‘property’ powers
Works in Default and Debt.
Use of other Debts
Pressure on Mortgagees.
Criminality & Proceeds of Crime
Court of Protection
7
A WEEK IN EMPTY HOMES
Incoming referrals/complaints
Tracing
Surveying
Grant/Loan Applications & approvals
Valuations
Referrals & Signposting
Council Tax Data Correction
Enforcement Notices
PTO
8
A WEEK IN EMPTY HOMES
Organising contractors
Battling with Mortgagees
Complaints against service
Service development
Media
Crime, fraud, overpayments.
Courts & Tribunals
NLA Accredited Landlords
BROKEN PEOPLE
9
THE IDEAL OWNER
WILLING AND ABLE TO DECIDE AND DO
WILL – keen to crack on
SKILL – can think ‘project’
TIME – can complete the ‘project tasks’
MONEY – can fund or source funding
I do not need to hunt for the ideal owner
10
EMPTY HOME OWNERS
Welcoming?
Logical?
Reasonable?
Organised?
Mentally sound?
Identify best interests?
11
Empty homes = Personal issues
Inheritance Shrines
Relationship Breakdown
Bankrupt/Insolvent
Criminal
D&D
Hoarders
Depression & mental health
12
13
For local authorities – Prudential Borrowing, at preferential rates
For community organisation, bonds, Big Society Capital (accessible via intermediaries)
Dissemination of best practice and education needed
15
16
17
18
19
OTHER DEBTS
+
Threat of further
Debts arising from
Enforcement Work
Owner owed a
builder/friend £130k for
works elsewhere.
Why not settle the
debt by transferring
the property to him?
20
21
CONTACT DETAILS
Empty Homes Network 0844 736 5 736
www.ehnetwork.org.uk
Nick Pritchard-Gordon
0118 937 3091
22
