Long Term Empty Properties

The request was successful.

I am writing to you to request the following information:

1) Can the council confirm their current number of Long Term Empty Properties as of the 13th 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) Does the reduction of empty homes in the council area form part of your Housing strategy?
4) Does the council have a budget in place to help support the reduction of empty properties?
5) How much did the council spend on temporary accommodation during 2018

Thank you very much,

Rhys

Information Compliance, Manchester City Council

Dear Mr. Thomas, 
Re: Request for Information - Reference No: STR / BC5FCL
Thank you for your request for information received by Manchester City
Council on 13 May 2019.
Please note that it may take up to 20 working days (11 June 2019) for the
Council to consider your request and to provide a formal response.   
If this timescale needs to be extended to consider an exemption you will
be notified and kept informed. 
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me. 
Yours sincerely
Democratic Services
PO Box 532
Town Hall
Manchester
M60 2LA
Email:  [1][MCC request email]
Website:  [2]www.manchester.gov.uk

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Housing Customer Services, Manchester City Council

Dear Mr Thomas

 

Request for Information – Reference STR/BC5FCL

 

Thank you for your request for information, which was received by
Manchester City Council on 13 May and considered under the provisions of
the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the 2000 Act”).

 

You asked:

 

I am writing to you to request the following information:

 

1)    Can the council confirm their current number of Long Term Empty
Properties as of 13^th 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)    Does the reduction of empty homes in the council area form part of
your Housing strategy?

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

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

 

Our Response:

 

1)    As of 01^st April 2019, the number of Long Term Empty Properties was
1,257.

2)    From 01^st April 2019, properties that have been empty and
unfurnished over two years will pay 200% Council Tax. From 01^st April
2020, properties empty and unfurnished for more than five years will pay
300% Council Tax, and from 01^st April 2021, properties empty and
unfurnished over ten years will pay 400% Council Tax.

3)    Over the last five years Manchester has been successful in reducing
the overall level of empty homes across the city. The reduction of empty
homes supports Manchester’s Residential Growth Strategy to achieve a level
of housing supply that meets population projections and strengthens the
overall residential offer to underpin accelerating economic growth, and
the utilisation of existing stock contributes to increasing the housing
supply. Furthermore it supports Manchester’s Housing Strategy 2016 – 2021
to make best use of all our homes and not allowing homes to stay empty. 

4)    There is currently a capital receipts budget of £1,782,000 to bring
empty homes back into use. The budget will allow us to purchase between 13
to 14 empty homes by consent on the open market, complete refurbishment
works and sell on wards to owner occupiers. This approach supports the
city’s Housing Affordability Policy Framework to provide homes that are
affordable to residents on or below the city’s average household income.
In addition to this the Housing Access Existing Stock Team provide advice
and guidance to property owners who may want to discuss their options in
relation to empty properties, we have found this to be an effective way to
also bring properties back into use.

5)    Manchester City Council’s spend on temporary accommodation was
£20.592m for 2018/19.

 

Our sincere apologies for not providing this response within the agreed
time-frame. Please note if you are not satisfied with this response you
may ask for an internal review. If you wish an internal review to be
undertaken you should contact the Democratic Services Legal Team, whose
address is, PO Box 532, Town Hall, Manchester, M60 2LA,
email: [1][MCC request email] in the first instance. 

A copy of the Council’s access to information complaints procedure can be
downloaded from 

[2]http://www.manchester.gov.uk/downloads/d...

If you do not have internet access and require a paper copy, please let me
know.

 

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review process,
you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision.

 

The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

 

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Tel: 01625 545700

Fax: 01625 524510

[3]www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

 

If you have any queries about this letter please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

 

Yours sincerely

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