6 Month Empty Home Policy for Accommodating Homeless People

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Dear Bournemouth Borough Council,

I am considering purchasing a second home near East Cliff. The intention being for family and friends to use it in particular during the Summer months. Before I advance please could the Council answer my 3 questions below in light of the positioned scenario.

I am wary that potentially my second home could be empty for over 6 months whereby the Council could potentially put a Charge on my second home to accommodate a homeless person/family.

Clearly I would not object to the Council using my second home for this purpose as I have always supported Charities and the plight of the homeless, but I am concerned that this could then prevent the use for which it was purchased and I could also suffer a significant financial loss.

Q1. If the Council did take a Charge on my second home and then accommodate a homeless person/family, how long would I be 'tied' and if they were accommodated say October - April would the Council re-home them to give me access to my second home for Summer?

Q2. Please could the Council clarify the legal position to which it operates in this matter and advise if the Council Tenant/s should damage my property would the Council pay for the repairs?

Q3. If house prices should start falling during the Council Tenancy period to which I am 'tied' and then unable to sell my house in good time, would the Council compensate me for the depreciation that occurs during the Council Tenancy period?

Yours faithfully,

Darrell Sturmey

Bournemouth Borough Council Enquiries, Bournemouth Borough Council

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HOU&COM FOIs, Bournemouth Borough Council

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Dear Mr Sturmey,

 

Information Request – Freedom of Information Act

 

Further to your request for information received on 2^nd January 2018,
please find attached the material that you asked for.

 

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Yours sincerely

 

 

Kind regards,

Emma Coombs
Strategic Housing Support Officer 
Housing and Communities
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Dear HOU&COM FOIs,

Thank you for your timely response and for aligning my understanding in such matters.

I now consider this FOI request closed.

Yours sincerely,

Darrell Sturmey