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 Domestic Properties as of the 13th May (those 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?

Thank you very much,

Rhys

FOI, Gloucester City Council

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Good morning,

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your Freedom Of Information (FOI)
request made to Gloucester City Council. 

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), we
anticipate to respond to your request for information within 20 working
days.  If this is not the case, we will be in touch to discuss an
extension to this deadline.

For further information on making an FOI request, or to view our online
Publication Scheme, go to our website on [1]www.gloucester.gov.uk.

Kind regards,

Hannah

 

Freedom of Information Officer

Democratic and Electoral Services             [email address]
Gloucester City Council                              01452 396204
Herbert Warehouse
The Docks
Gloucester, GL1 2EQ

References

Visible links
1. http://www.gloucester.gov.uk/

FOI, Gloucester City Council

1 Attachment

Good afternoon,

I am emailing with regards to your Freedom of Information request.

Please accept my apologies – unfortunately, due to staff absence the
Council will not be able to provide you with a response today.

As soon as I have a complete response for you I will send that across.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your patience.

Many thanks,

Hannah

 

FOI, Gloucester City Council

1 Attachment

Good morning,

I am emailing with regards to your Freedom of Information request.

Please accept my apologies – unfortunately the Council will not be able to
provide you with a response today.

As soon as I have a complete response for you I will send that across.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your patience.

Many thanks,

Hannah

 

FOI, Gloucester City Council

1 Attachment

 

Thank you for your request for information received on 14^th May 2019.

Your request is being handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
(FOIA).

 

Please find below Gloucester City Council’s response to your request for
information. 

 

Q1. Can the council confirm their current number of Long Term Empty
Domestic Properties as of the 13th May (those properties which have been
empty for six months or older)

A. 703.

 

Q2. What work is the council currently undertaking or planning to
undertake around reducing their long term empty properties in 2019?

A. At present, housing resources have been prioritised towards improving
standards in dwellings that are already occupied.

 

Q3. 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?

A. The Council has adopted a policy to implement a 150% Council Tax bill
to incentivise empty home owners.  Landlords of empty dwellings can access
landlord incentives to take tenants who the council place in temporary
accommodation.

 

Q4. If yes is the answer to question three, did the council review every
single long term property

A. Revenues visited all empty homes that had been empty for greater than 2
years. Then the liable persons for each empty home was contacted and given
details about the landlord incentives scheme. Implementation of Empty
Homes premium C Tax form the 1st April 2019.

 

Q5. Does the reduction of empty homes in the council area form part of
your Housing strategy?

A. Yes.

 

Q6. Does the council have a budget in place to help support the reduction
of empty properties?

A. The Council does not have a specific budget.

 

Q7. How much did the council spend on temporary accommodation during 2018?

A. £1.3m.

 

Q8. Does the council offer financial support /loans to Long Term Empty
property owners to help them bring properties back into use?
A. The council offer payments to incentivise landlords to provide
accommodation to tenants on the temporary accommodation lists.

 

If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been
handled, you can request a review by

contacting the Council at:

 

* E-mail [email address]
( Telephone 01452 396 514
+ Post Freedom of Information

Gloucester City Council

Herbert Warehouse

The Docks

Gloucester

GL1 2EQ

 

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or complaint,
you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at:

 

The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

 

Telephone: 0303 123 1113 or 01625 54 57 45           

Website: www.ico.gov.uk  

 

There is no charge for making an appeal.

 

Kind Regards,

Hannah