Freedom of Information Request - Long Term Empty Properties

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Ashleigh Niamir

Dear Slough Borough Council,

I am writing to you to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act:

1) Can the council confirm their current number of Long Term Empty Properties as of the 8th May (those domestic properties which have been empty for six months or older)
2) What work is the council currently undertaking or planning to undertake around reducing their long term empty properties in 2019?
3) During 2018 did you undertake any work around reducing your Long Term Empty Properties. If you did was this done using internal resource or a third party?
4) If yes is the answer to question three, did the council review every single long term property
5) Does the reduction of empty homes in the council area form part of your Housing strategy?
6) Does the council have a budget in place to help support the reduction of empty properties?
7) How much did the council spend on temporary accommodation during 2018?
8) Does the council offer financial support /loans to Long Term Empty property owners to help them bring properties back into use?

Yours faithfully,

Ashleigh

FOI, Slough Borough Council

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_FreedomOfInformation, Slough Borough Council

This is to acknowledge receipt of your FOI request which is receiving attention

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_FreedomOfInformation, Slough Borough Council

Dear Ashleigh

Please see response below

1) Can the council confirm their current number of Long Term Empty Properties as of the 8th May (those domestic properties which have been empty for six months or older)
As of April 2019 = 302
2) What work is the council currently undertaking or planning to undertake around reducing their long term empty properties in 2019?
We are actively taking Enforcement and made 7 CPO application, 4 of which confirmed and other 3 property was returned to occupation. Since April 2019 we also offering Grant assistance to those owner who are responses and address the problem in a timely manner
3) During 2018 did you undertake any work around reducing your Long Term Empty Properties. If you did was this done using internal resource or a third party?
Internal staff resource and external Legal expertise
4) If yes is the answer to question three, did the council review every single long term property. No, we prioritised the very long term empty properties ( more than 5 years)
5) Does the reduction of empty homes in the council area form part of your Housing strategy?
Yes
6) Does the council have a budget in place to help support the reduction of empty properties?
Yes
7) How much did the council spend on temporary accommodation during 2018?
In 18/19 the Council spent £1,742,000. This is what was spent after the income received on temporary accommodation units.

8) Does the council offer financial support /loans to Long Term Empty property owners to help them bring properties back into use?
As described in Q2, since April we offer Empty property grant which is for a maximum of £15 cover %50 of the renovation costs

Regards, SBC FOI Officer

-------------------------------------------
From: Ashleigh Niamir[SMTP:[email address]]
Sent: 14 May 2019 18:07:01
To: FOI
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Freedom of Information Request - Long Term Empty Properties
Auto forwarded by a Rule

Dear Slough Borough Council,

I am writing to you to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act:

1) Can the council confirm their current number of Long Term Empty Properties as of the 8th May (those domestic properties which have been empty for six months or older)
2) What work is the council currently undertaking or planning to undertake around reducing their long term empty properties in 2019?
3) During 2018 did you undertake any work around reducing your Long Term Empty Properties. If you did was this done using internal resource or a third party?
4) If yes is the answer to question three, did the council review every single long term property
5) Does the reduction of empty homes in the council area form part of your Housing strategy?
6) Does the council have a budget in place to help support the reduction of empty properties?
7) How much did the council spend on temporary accommodation during 2018?
8) Does the council offer financial support /loans to Long Term Empty property owners to help them bring properties back into use?

Yours faithfully,

Ashleigh

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