Twenty-seven empty private sector homes have been brought back into use this year thanks to the work of the council’s Empty Properties team.
Empty homes are on the increase across the UK, with a recent report from the Local Government Association and the Empty Homes Network showing that the number of long-term empty homes has increased nationally by nearly 10 per cent over the last 5 years.
In Brighton & Hove, snapshot figures last year indicate that nearly 1900 homes were empty between 6 months and 2 years, and more than 300 were empty for longer than 2 years – including 5 empty for more than 10 years.
As part of Empty Homes Week (4 to 10 March), we’re encouraging residents to tell us if a property you live near has become empty or derelict.
With housing in such demand across all tenures, we need to make sure best use is made of every property in the city.
The approach to empty properties in Brighton & Hove is to initially work with the owners. Where that fails, we will use a range of enforcement powers to make sure that empty properties are brought back into use.
From 1 April, the 100% premium applicable to long-term empty and unfurnished properties will be applied after one year rather than the current 2 years, after being agreed at the Full Council meeting on 1 February.
It was also agreed to introduce new 100% Council Tax premiums on second homes in the city from 1 April 2025. This is the earliest date that the regulations allow.
These changes follow a new option for councils to apply premiums on second homes and long-term empty properties, introduced under the Levelling-up & Regeneration Bill 2023.
As well as raising additional revenue in recognition of the impact second and empty homes can have on communities and housing supply, the premium also acts as an incentive for owners of empty to bring them back into use.
Over the last year, we’ve kept the number of empty council-rented homes low, with a reduction from 180 at end the March 2023 to 164 this February. Both figures include a number of new homes waiting to be let to residents for the first time.
With more than 11,900 properties, we’ll always have a number of empty homes with people moving in and out, and many requiring work to ensure properties are in good condition when new tenants move in.
Since recruiting more staff and appointing additional contractors last year, we’ve caught up on delays to reletting empty homes following Covid, and have kept the number of empty council homes down to 1.5% of our properties - putting us among the top performing local authorities in the country.
So far in 2023/24, we ‘ve let a total of 662 council homes, 460 were re-lets and 202 were 'first lets' of newly built or bought back properties.
Councillor Gill Williams, chair of the Housing & New Homes Committee, said: “With the supply of housing in Brighton & Hove limited, we desperately need to make sure all empty properties are returned to use as homes.
“The reasons a home is empty can be complex and we’ll always work with owners to bring properties back to use first. However, will use all enforcement powers available to us where that brings progress.
“I’m very pleased we will be introducing Council Tax premiums on long-term empty homes, and shortening the grace period to a year.
“This increases the incentive to owners of empty homes to bring them back into use, as well as helping raise additional income to help address housing supply in the city.
“In a city where the national housing crisis is so keenly felt, incentives to bring homes back into use for local residents is something we strongly welcome.
“If you’re aware of a property in the city that has become empty or derelict, please do let us know.”
