empty council houses in flintshire

B This has a number of cross cutting service links through Housing Management, fromthe refurbishment of the void to prepare it for reoccupation and the re-letting of the property to those on the General Housing Register. Meanwhile Flintshire council will get 750,000 from the Welsh Government to redevelop old and empty properties that are difficult to bring back into use. Empty properties or 'voids' happen when a tenant leaves one of the council's owned housing units. Comments have been closed on this article. The concern has been raised after the number of households across Flintshire which needed temporary accommodation more than doubled over three months. This loan is to help owners bring empty properties back in to use. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. D contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. COUNCIL chiefs have raised concerns that an authority's funds to help residents who find themselves homeless may be exceeded by an increase in demand. This is in the form of an interest free loan to cover works which bring the property up to the Decent Homes Standard. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. FLINTSHIRE councillors have discussed what the next steps arefor empty houses throughout the county - after atwo year struggledue to various complications. This strategy is available at the bottom of this . One of these, headed 'homelessness', explains there is a risk due to the cessation of funding from the Welsh Government COVID-19 hardship fund at the end of 2021/22. Empty properties. Miss Harkin said: We need to radically improve where we are now.. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. antonyms. If you are concerned that a property is empty in your area report it at emptyhomes@shelter.org.uk or phone the Empty Homes Advice Service on 0344 515 1941. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? When an empty property is being sold after the death of the owner the property is exempt of Council Tax for 6 months after the granting of probate. As well as that, the longer a property is empty the less valuable it becomes. We use cookies to improve your experience. S *Stats independent & directly measured by Google, via the Analytics Live API. Bedsits were also "generally unpopular" with older tenants and tended to be used as short-term accommodation. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. The Welsh Government has launched a new Loan scheme offering financial support to owners of private properties. He said: Many old and vulnerable adults rely on the support and friendship from resident wardens.. Editors' Code of Practice. O 2023 BBC. N:B Applications will also be considered from first time buyers who wish to reside at the property themselves and who are also registered on the Councils Affordable Home Ownership Register. Council bosses are being asked whether hard-to-let sheltered housing should be adapted to be made more suitable, or offered for use by tenants of any age. Flintshire Council has more than 2,600 sheltered homes, which account for more than a third of its total housing stock . Properties, including houses on the Holway estate, Holywell, and bedsits in sheltered housing complex Glan y Morfa Court, Connahs Quay, have been identified by the council as practically impossible to let. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. K It is the responsibility of home owners to maintain their property and to keep it in good order. An example would be, works to remedy serious disrepair, provide modern kitchen and bathroom facilities, improve heating systems and insulation, and to remove any serious hazards which could affect the well-being of the occupier, such as dampness, dangerous stairs or electrical wiring. Some flats become unsuitable as tenants grow older, the report said. Challenges faced by the council included the availability of skilled resources, raw materials and linked price increases, all of which impacts negatively on void delivery and turnaround times. Work has begun on a 3.1m redevelopment of Aberystwyth railway station in Mid Wales. Flintshire Council's Cabinet will meet on Tuesday to discuss a revenue budget monitoring report for 2022/23. Y Council set to pull out of managed lettings, Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Air strikes pound Sudan capital as truce extended. We use cookies on your computer or mobile device to help make this website better. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. This is in the form of an interest free loan to cover works which bring the property up to the Decent Homes Standard. I believe the one in Lixwm is being considered for a lady with disabilities, said Coun Yale. 2014. T "Although it has been possible to contain some of the expected pressure through prepaid accommodation to the end of September 2022, which has been funded by the COVID-19 Hardship Fund, the expected continued high demand for temporary accommodation including short term Bed & Breakfast provision will continue to present significant challenges. The reasons include distance from shops, and upstairs flats unsuitable for less mobile elderly tenants. Read about our approach to external linking. Work to turn the former Co-operative store in Newcastle into shops, leisure facilities and a hotel in a 17m redevelopment have begun. The borough council last night confirmed a total 16 former warden properties have been empty, some for several years, while the authority considered its sheltered housing policy. Some homes do not get a Council Tax bill for as long as they stay empty. Natural Resources Wales: There are approximately 500 long term empty properties in the County. People are desperate for houses and they can see these properties boarded up for weeks.. Council set to pull out of managed lettings, Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine, Air strikes pound Sudan capital as truce extended, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies. You can apply for a home through your local council. Questions were raised over whether or not more regular inspections needed to be carried out in order to ensure that any damage done by tenants was kept to a minimum. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. 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Is climate change killing Australian wine? Buying an empty home. Deeside.com Est. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? A Gannett Company. Lists. The Council's Empty Homes Strategy involves working with other appropriate agencies and demonstrates the Council's commitment to improve this problem. London Borough of Lambeth: Principal Planning Officer (Development Management) (672), London Borough of Lambeth: Senior Planning Officer (Development Management)(671), Natural Resources Wales: Specialist Planning Advisor, Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. Executive member for housing management, Coun Helen Yale, said the situation was one which had existed before she came into office, but now 15 of the 16 had been rented out and Lixwm was under consideration. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Your council will then prioritise applications based on who needs a home most urgently. Flintshire has approximately 500 long term empty properties; the Empty Property Grant is a loan to help owners bring empty properties back in to use. Flintshire County Council's Social Services department Housing Apply for a Council house and find other advice relating to Flintshire County Council's Housing services Jobs and. These include empty homes: She said although the authority has around 3,000 on its housing waiting list, the properties could not be released to families or single youngsters because of their proximity to elderly people. Please note you will be required to manage the project yourself, including seeking competitive quotes, arranging an asbestos survey, managing the work on site and ensuring that all the work is completed to your satisfaction and meets any legislative requirements in place.Please note that the loan is discretionary and an offer of a loan cannot be guaranteed until the applicant has received formal notice of approval. Flintshire County Council retains tenancy rights for the duration of the agreement. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. 69 other terms for empty house - words and phrases with similar meaning. All monies will be paid to you on provision of a Contractor(s) invoice on completion of the works. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to The only way the property owner could prevent a sale would be to repay the debt, but the council said the policy would only be used as a last resort after all other avenues had failed. , It comes after neighbouring Wrexham Council admitted earlier this month that the external contractors it uses are struggling to keep up with the rate of repairs needed. Something went wrong, please try again later. Repayment terms to be sorted by administrator on a case-by-case basis as part of affordability checks, Owners of sub-standard residential properties e.g. Ratepayers are footing the bill for the 217 void properties, which are estimated to be losing Flintshire County Council 1.5m in rent a year. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Empty homes are a waste of resource. A review by Flintshire County Council showed some schemes were not popular. Please report any comments that break our rules. An example would be, works to remedy serious disrepair, provide modern kitchen and bathroom facilities, improve heating systems and insulation, and to remove any serious hazards which could affect the well-being of the occupier, such as dampness, dangerous stairs or electrical wiring. FLINTSHIRE has more than 200 empty council properties - even though there's a waiting list of 4,000 people desperate for homes. The Welsh Government has confirmed it will withdraw its detailed policy on planning for sustainable buildings at the end of next month (July). You can change your cookie settings at any time. The role in Development Management provide a perfect opportunity for successful candidate to thrive and progress in their planning career Be warned, it can be a lengthy and difficult process and there are many complicated reasons why a home might be empty. Part furnished. Nearest school 0.6mi. Flintshire claims it is one of the first authorities in Wales to have a person working solely on turning around empty homes using money specifically set aside to renovate dilapidated properties. P Please note that the loan is discretionary and an offer of a loan cannot be guaranteed until the applicant has received formal notice of approval. Flintshire County Council retains tenancy rights for the duration of the agreement. The result was lost rent of 242,492 in 2018-19, the report said, equivalent to 2.2% of the 11.3m raised from sheltered accommodation tenants. M An action plan has been put together to deal with the void properties, which includes recruiting 14 people to bring empty properties up to standard. Analysis showed "a series of issues where some of the schemes appear unpopular", resulting in a high turnover and properties left empty. The average age of the council's housing stock is considered to be some of the oldest in the United Kingdom and they are also considerably older than many nearby Local Housing Associations' housing stock. Flexible, The Planner Magazine is 2023Redactive Publishing Limited. Max: 25,000 per unit of accommodation (150,000 per applicant maximum). If a property is empty longer than 6 months, the Council tax payments are affected. On completion of the works, the property meets the, Maximum loan of 10,000 subject to eligibility testing and loan assessment, Loan is repaid on sale or transfer or cessation of nomination rights. Empty Property Grant & Living Over the Shops (LOTS), APPLY FOR IT: Empty Property Financial Assistance (PDF - 0.1 MB), Works which make a residential property safe warm and/or secure, 1,000 up to 25,000. An "excessive" number of empty sheltered homes is costing a council nearly a quarter of a million pounds a year in lost rent, officers say. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's A Gannett Company. If you send any further correspondence about this request, please include the reference number and either e.mail it to [Flintshire County Council request email], or post it to Freedom of Information, Flintshire County Council, Information Governance, County . Dear Mr Evans, I write to acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information request which has been given the reference number R013477. Figures released by Wrexham Council . During the meeting this week, Housing Services manager Sean O'Donnell said the maintarget now was to 'address the backlog in voids and increase resilience' in terms of contractors. . G A review of sheltered housing in Flintshire is set to be carried out because of an 'excessive' amount of empty properties. ", The current site of the Cardiff bus station is to become the new home for BBC Cymru Wales. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. , The authority launched a drive to try and improve the quality of accommodation it lets out, but said empty properties had gone up to 281 as they failed to keep pace. Flintshire Council's Cabinet will meet on Tuesday to discuss a revenue budget monitoring report for 2022/23. An example would be, works to remedy serious disrepair, provide modern kitchen . contact the editor here. Cllr Attridge said: The people being let down are the people we represent, the tenants.. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can The borough council last night confirmed a total 16 former. W More than 2m has been spent on bringing empty council homes in Flintshire back into use last year. Flintshire Share 2014, *Stats independent & directly measured by Google, via the Analytics Live API. Property & houses for sale in Flintshire Create alert Grid view Map view Sort: Most recent 259,995 3 bedroom semi-detached house for sale Plot 26, The Epsom at Summers Bridge, Welsh Road, Deeside CH5 Nearest station 1.2mi. The fund, made available to Councils in Wales, enables the Council to provide short to medium term loans to owners of sub-standard properties who pass affordability criteria and who are restricted by other sources of finance. The authority's housing revenue account however forecasts an expenditire of 3.1m higher than was budgeted for. , Chief officer for housing and assets, Neal Cockerton, said the agreed payment rates are shortly due to lapse and need renewing. The Voids Action Plan was discussed during theCommunity andHousing Overview andScrutiny Committee meeting held on Wednesday, March 8. By viewing our content you are accepting Flintshire Council set to reduce pesticide use to support wildlife, Bid to tackle challenges surrounding empty council houses in Flintshire, Frightened and desperate families speak out over housing rental shortage. Upstairs flats also became unsuitable for elderly tenants over time as they became less mobile, it added. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, Banana artwork in Seoul museum eaten by visitor, Explosion derails train in Russian border region, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Trump says 'great to be home' on visit to Scotland, Indian 'killer' elephant relocated to tiger reserve, Ding becomes China's first male world chess champion. E These applicants are not subject to the conditions relating to the management of the property by a social lettings agency, FCC retaining tenancy rights and the requirement to become an accredited landlord. Applicant must have sufficient equity within their property to cover the loan amount/or offer a different property with sufficient equity for security, Applicants property must be long term vacant (over 6 months), Property must be tenanted until the loan is released or sold, On completion of the works, the property must be habitable and of a lettable standard (no, Property must be covered by buildings insurance until the loan is repaid, Maximum loan of 25,000 subject to eligibility testing and loan assessment, The Council holds a share of the property value, to the cost of the works, Loan is repaid on sale or transfer (maximum loan term is 2 years for sale and 3 years for rent), Voluntary early repayment may be made at any time. Flintshire Council paid approximately 2.3m to bring its vacant social houses back to an appropriate standard for new tenants in the last 12 months . Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. MORE than a dozen council properties have stood empty for years - costing Flintshire thousands of pounds in lost rental income. 01244 725688. Kilncraigs, Alloa, Clackmannanshire, FK10 1EBTel: 01259 450000Email: customerservice@clacks.gov.uk. Lambeth has a fantastic variety of areas, stretching from prominent riverside locations in the north such as Waterloo/South Bank and Vauxhall An "excessive" number of empty sheltered homes is costing a council nearly a quarter of a million pounds a year in lost rent, officers say. We serve those towns and villages in Flintshire which lie close to River Dee in North East Wales and the border with neighbouring Chester in England. Max: 35,000 per unit of accommodation (150,000 per applicant maximum). Sheltered housing in remote areas suffered from limited access to shops, especially with the closure of local convenience stores, the report said, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The latest analysis of properties shows a total of 772 properties are currently subject to the 50% premium charge, consisting of 605 long term empty properties and 167 second homes. On completion of the works, the property meets the Decent Homes Standard. Property must be covered by buildings insurance until the loan is repaid. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? Flintshire has approximately 500 long term empty properties; the Empty Property Grant is a loan to help owners bring empty properties back in to use. The Housing and Assets Service housing stock consists of around 7,300 properties. FLINTSHIRE has more than 200 empty council properties even though theres a waiting list of 4,000 people desperate for homes. He said there was no good explanation from the authority then about why it was empty and in the intervening six years it had remained empty. Speaking before the meeting, Cllr Bernie Attridge said: This is absolutely dreadful. But, the re-tendering exercise will 'increase resilience', whilst ensuring newly procured contractors are held accountable to performance targets. Amongst the recommendations to cabinet members are that they note the report and the estimated financial impact on the 2022/23 Among the warden bungalows which have remained empty is a three bedroom bungalow at Lixwm near Holywell, which has been empty for at least six years. Empty flats could also be used to cut council spending on delayed transfer from care or hospital for people not yet ready to return to their own homes. , Currently up to 500 of its 7,200 rental properties become available each year, and the authority is now preparing to put new guidelines in placefor how it selects builders to carry out the improvement works. Any properties where tenants refuse access needs to be reported to housing management.". contact the editor here. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. On top of the loss, the council is spending 3,500 on bringing each property up to standard. But the new proposal has already come under fire from Labour opposition on Flintshire, who have pledged to fight it. "There is a recent trend of increased numbers of households in Bed & Breakfast accommodation with numbers increasing progressively month on month from 29 in October to 61 in January, so more than doubling over a period of three months. This is designed to cover works which bring the property up to the Decent Homes Standard. Upstairs flats also became unsuitable for elderly tenants over time as they became less mobile, it added. The service refurbishes an average 550 empty properties annually, with works varying from minor to major general maintenance and repair works.

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