Freedom of Information Request - Long Term Empty Properties

The request was successful.

Dear Cotswold District 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,

Alex Arthur

Cotswold District Council

Thank you for your request for information.

Your request/s are being dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 or Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and
will be answered within twenty working days from the date of receipt. 
This timescale may be extended under certain circumstances. If this
happens you will be notified of this and the estimated date of response.

Kind regards

The FOI Team

 

Chauncy Seed,

Dear Cotswold District 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)

686

2) What work is the council currently undertaking or planning to undertake around reducing their long term empty properties in 2019?

Dedicated Empty Homes Coordinator in place, sole focus to reduce the number of LTE properties this includes monitoring each address and finding the reason why it is empty, sending regular review forms to be completed and returned. Supporting the owners to bring property back into use with VAT reduction letters and general advice. Ringing and emailing owners who do not respond to review forms, visiting properties which are highlighted as 'nuisance' LTE's or where the owner will not engage. Offering to help rent out the property to a nominated tenant from our housing waiting list. Spread sheet record of every LTE with updates and reports done weekly on current number empty and reasons why.

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?

Yes, internal staff

4) If yes is the answer to question three, did the council review every single long term property

Yes

5) Does the reduction of empty homes in the council area form part of your Housing strategy?

Yes and we are working on an Empty Homes Strategy

6) Does the council have a budget in place to help support the reduction of empty properties?

Staff salary and Flexible Homelessness Support Grant (landlord incentive scheme)

7) How much did the council spend on temporary accommodation during 2018?

The total spent on temp accommodation between 01/01/18 to 31/12/18 for Cotswold District Council was £37,289.73.

8) Does the council offer financial support /loans to Long Term Empty property owners to help them bring properties back into use?

No

Yours faithfully,

Alex Arthur

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint you should write to The Monitoring Officer, Cotswold District Council, Trinity Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1PX
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Council. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.