Campaign to bring Empty Homes into use launched

There are over 350 properties in the district that have been empty for longer than six months, while over 150 of them have been empty for more than 18 months.

To tackle this problem Daventry District Council will be contacting the owners of these properties in January and inviting them to take part in the Homematch scheme, which bring tenants and prospective landlords together.

Councillor Steve Osborne, portfolio holder for Housing and Health, said: “Anything that can be done to bring these empty homes back into use will benefit both the owner and the locality. 

“From the owner’s perspective, given the current fall in property values any income that can be achieved from letting the property will go some way to offsetting losses in capital value. 

“For local residents bringing an empty home back into use will significantly reduce the opportunities for vandalism, anti-social behaviour and fly tipping.”

The scheme involves Daventry District Council visiting a landlord at the property to ensure that it meets the decent homes criteria. If it does not then the council can advise landlords on what they would need to do in order to bring it up to a required standard, and then ultimately provide them with the details of people on the housing register who would like to privately rent.

The owner can then meet with the prospective tenants and decide who they would like to rent the property to. 

The Council can also offer advice on sample tenancy agreements and the owner’s legal obligations.

Daventry District Council wants to work with owners in bringing properties back into use and anyone who would like more information can contact Richard Vallis on 01327 302237 or email rvallis@daventrydc.gov.uk.