Liverpool City Council has informed the media that it is carrying out a review of empty properties in the city in the hopes of dealing with the lack of housing in the city. Reducing homelessness while eradicating any need for the temporary ways of living is a key priority for the council. All owners of empty properties, whether they are occupied or not, will be contacted so that the records are updated, with new information being obtained where necessary.
It was revealed that the Council’s most recent budget agreed to impose an additional 100% Council tax on those properties that that had been vacant for more than one year; those homes that had laid dormant for at least five years will be subject to a Council tax charge of up to 200%. Finally, properties that have been empty for ten years or more were subject to a 300% increase in Council tax charges.
Nationwide, there has been a surge in the number of long-term empty properties, with the figure now standing at over 248,000, up 24% during the last six years. In the next few years, Crisis, a homelessness charity, believes that up to 40,000 affordable homes could be erected throughout the country if action is taken to take advantage of vacant properties.
Councillor Ruth Bennett, The Cabinet Member in charge of finance, resources, and transformation and the deputy leader, stated, “Long-term vacant properties can decay and bring disrepute to their respective communities. They portray neglect and decline in the area, which is an injustice to the residents. In the city, there is a necessity of affordable homes to reduce homelessness. These empty properties can meet the housing demand and revive the residents’ pride in their area. The review of empty properties will help make sure that our records and Council Tax charges are up-to-date. This strand of work is just a part of the Council’s efforts to respond to the housing crisis. Ongoing initiatives will be implemented throughout the year and announced to further boost affordable housing access across the city.”
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