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What is the Empty Homes Strategy?
The Empty Homes Strategy is a range of initiatives aimed at bringing empty privately owned homes across the town back into use. The various options included in the strategy offer a number of different ways of helping owners get their empty properties back into use, whilst providing homes for people who are in housing need.
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Why have the Empty Homes Strategy?
According to our records, there are over 3000 privately owned empty homes in Hastings. Of these, approximately 1600 have been empty for 6 months or more. This represents a wasted resource when there are a large number of people in housing need across the town.
Empty properties represent a loss of potential earnings to their owners in the form of rent. They may also become targets for crime and anti-social behaviour, such as fly tipping. Bringing properties back into use enhances the whole community, making the neighbourhood safer.
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The Empty Homes Officer
The Empty Homes Officer plays an important role in the Empty Homes Strategy by providing a first point of contact, and by helping owners find the best way of bringing properties back into use.
What options are available?
There are a number of different schemes operating in Hastings including:
- Private sector leasing
- Sale to a housing association
- Information on letting the property
- Deposit guarantee schemes
- Enforcement action
The Empty Homes Officer will be able to advise you on the best option to bring your empty home back into use.
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Private Sector Leasing
The private sector leasing scheme aims to remove the worry for an owner of letting their property. It does this by arranging for a Housing Association to lease the property for a fixed and usually longer period. The owner will receive a guaranteed rent, whilst the Housing Association takes on the management responsibilities and arranges for major repairs or improvements.
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Information on Letting a Property
Advice can be given to new and existing landlords both verbally and in leaflet format. Information can be provided on a range of subjects, such as tenancy agreements, health and safety requirements and how to find a tenant
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Deposit Guarantee Scheme
This scheme helps people in housing need access to good quality privately rented accommodation. Many tenants do not have the necessary funds to provide a deposit. This scheme solves the problem by providing a deposit. Hastings and Rother Bond Board provide an independent bond holding service, in addition to carrying out video inventories of properties.
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Enforcement Action
Where negotiations with an owner have been exhausted, we have has powers to take enforcement action against an owner to carry out repair works. We may also issue a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), particularly if the property has been vacant a number of years, or if the property has fallen into serious disrepair.
