Plans for Empty Houses (Council's Owened)

The request was partially successful.

Dear Hartlepool Council,

I would like to know if you have a concrete plan for bringing empty homes back in use or a concrete plan to reduce the number of empty houses.

A "target" of 10 unit of properties under Empty Property Purchasing Scheme annually is really insignificant (https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/n...).

And this is merely a "target", not a PLAN. The use of "firm Datatank to undertake a review of empty properties in the area for Council Tax Base purposes" is only to work out what tax is due to be paid (both the tax and Databank firm is paid from tax payers' money).

I do think that new homes are more encouraged due to the incentives HC receives from New Homes Bonus, discouraging any plan to reduce the empty properties.

Therefore, please could you supply me with:
1) a concrete plan to reduce empty homes for the next 5 years for Council's owned properties
2) scheme/incentives to help private empty home owners to bring their properties back in use
3) the number of empty properties (council owned) in 2019, 2020, 2021

Many thanks.

Yours faithfully,

Enny Durman

Freedomofinformation, Hartlepool Council

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FOI Responses, Hartlepool Council

Dear Enny

Further to your request for information, I can advise as below;

1) a concrete plan to reduce empty homes for the next 5 years for Council's owned properties. Strategy for tacking empty homes in Hartlepool is included in the Housing Strategy 2019-24: https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/downloads/...
2) scheme/incentives to help private empty home owners to bring their properties back in use.
There are currently no schemes to help owners bring empty homes back into use as there is currently no funding to delivery such a scheme.
3) the number of empty properties (council owned) in 2019, 2020, 2021.
There are no council owned long term empty properties

We hope that this information deals with your request, however if you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted to [email address] within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original request.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, 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, www.ico.org.uk

Kind Regards
Elena Lilley| Legal Administration Officer
Hartlepool Borough Council
Tel: (01429) 523647 | Ext: 3647
Email: [email address]

Web: hartlepool.gov.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/hartlepoolcouncil
Twitter: twitter.com/HpoolCouncil

From: Enny Durman [mailto:[FOI #855456 email]]
Sent: 19 April 2022 06:08
To: Freedomofinformation <[Hartlepool Council request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Plans for Empty Houses (Council's Owened)

Dear Hartlepool Council,

I would like to know if you have a concrete plan for bringing empty homes back in use or a concrete plan to reduce the number of empty houses.

A "target" of 10 unit of properties under Empty Property Purchasing Scheme annually is really insignificant (https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/n...).

And this is merely a "target", not a PLAN. The use of "firm Datatank to undertake a review of empty properties in the area for Council Tax Base purposes" is only to work out what tax is due to be paid (both the tax and Databank firm is paid from tax payers' money).

I do think that new homes are more encouraged due to the incentives HC receives from New Homes Bonus, discouraging any plan to reduce the empty properties.

Therefore, please could you supply me with:
1) a concrete plan to reduce empty homes for the next 5 years for Council's owned properties. Strategy for tacking empty homes in Hartlepool is included in the Housing Strategy 2019-24:
2) scheme/incentives to help private empty home owners to bring their properties back in use.
3) the number of empty properties (council owned) in 2019, 2020, 2021.

Many thanks.

Yours faithfully,

Enny Durman

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