Rugby Lib Dems raise issue of empty homes with Council Leader

On 13 June, at the Whittle Overview and Scrutiny Committee, newly elected Rugby Borough Councillor Tim Douglas for Paddow Ward raised the issue of empty homes in Rugby with the Council Leader and the Chief Executive.

Councillor Douglas tabled a question to the Leader asking 'what Rugby Borough Council is doing to encourage individuals, builders and developers to get empty properties back on the market.' Cllr Douglas wanted to know if we can be confident that the Borough Council is defining "empty properties" correctly and that we know the real number.

Responding to the question, the Leader of Rugby Council said that in May the total number of empty properties was 820 in Rugby Borough. Of these properties 220 have been empty long term, (which is defined as between six months and two years.) During this time the owners have to pay 100 per cent council tax. 82 properties had been left empty for over two years and have to pay 150 per cent council tax. 518 empty properties in Rugby are in natural churn.

To help get empty properties back on the market Council Officers monitor and visit properties, giving advice to owners as to the options available to them. Funding schemes are available to help and owners can contact the Council for assistance.

It is encouraging that Rugby Borough Council is keen to work with owners of empty homes in Rugby to generate much needed stock. There are of course a number of factors as to why properties become empty, but the more information that the Council can provide about the help they can offer, the better the situation will be.

More widely, a report by Empty Homes in Autumn 2015 said that there are 200,000 long term empty properties and 600,000 total empty homes in England.

It is vital that we have an evolving empty homes strategy in Rugby. However, fundamentally the development of new homes from empty property must go hand in hand with building new homes to address local housing needs.