Empty Homes

 

Houses 4 Homes is the Empty Homes initiative operated by the Environmental Health - Private Sector Housing Team of Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils, set up with the aim of reducing the number of long term empty homes in the districts.

Houses 4 Homes (the Council) recognises that residential properties may become empty for a variety of reasons, and so Houses 4 Homes looks to work with property owners to aid them in returning those properties to occupied use.

Nationally the government wants to increase the number of empty homes that are brought back into use nationally. It is a sustainable way to increase the overall supply of housing, and to reduce blight on neighbourhoods. The government wants builders, investors, and local councils to increase the supply of repurposed empty homes.

Houses 4 Homes (the Councils) therefore aim to reduce the number of long-term empty properties within the districts, by bringing empty properties back into use and discouraging owners from leaving them empty.

In achieving this, we hope to:

• help alleviate a growing national housing need
• offer more choice to the housing market
• prevent empty properties from becoming a blight to their local area or from having a negative Environmental impact

Report Empty Homes

Report a residential property you believe to be empty

Supporting Empty Home Owners

Houses 4 Homes (The Council) can assist property owners in a variety of ways and to prevent property owners from being subject to legal enforcement action. You can contact our team to find out more about how we can help you and your specific set of circumstances, however our assistance includes and is not limited to:

• general advice and support
• construction support and project planning
• financial interest free loan assistance
• landlord lettings and income assistance

Formal Enforcement

Where property owner's action is not taken and properties remain empty, the Council (Houses 4 Homes) may rely on enforcement and legislation to take action against an owner and return a property to use.

Read more about our Empty Homes Policy

Read more about enforcement action against empty homes

Contact us

To discuss any of the services we can offer you and to find out more information please contact us:

Don't leave it alone, make it a home...

Further information: