17-NOV-05
Owners of empty properties in Bolton are being encouraged to get them back into use, to prevent and tackle the problems associated with long term empty homes, such as crime and Anti Social Behaviour.
Bolton at Home and Bolton Council are working together to reduce the number of empty properties across the borough, and will intervene where an empty property is causing a problem.
New enforcement powers will be available from April 2006, under the Housing Act 2004, with the introduction of empty dwellings management orders (EDMOs). These orders would allow Bolton Council to take over temporary management and improvements of a property which has been unoccupied for at least 6 months, and where there has been no reasonable effort to get it back into use, and is causing a problem. The property can then be let out to tenants, reverting back to owners as long as costs incurred by the Council are settled.
Bolton has around 4,600 empty properties in the private sector, which accounts for 80% of all empty properties in the borough.
Cllr Noel Spencer, Chair of Bolton at Home, said: “A home that stands empty is not just a waste, but it can attract vandals and increase fear of crime, encourage fly tipping and become a safety risk if run down. Ensuring that empty homes become occupied can improve environmental standards, reduce crime and Anti Social Behaviour often associated with derelict areas, and help build sustainable communities.”
Cllr David Wilkinson, Executive
Member for Development and Regeneration, added: “The Council is committed to
reducing the number of empty properties throughout the borough. Tackling
empty properties in the private sector will regenerate local neighbourhoods
and contribute to making the borough a better place to live, work and
invest.”
