Good for the local economy I hope!! This is in the form of an interest free loan to cover works which bring the property up to the Decent Homes Standard. Applicant is invited to apply by the Council, For use within the Councils strategic Renewal Area, A proportion of the grant must be repaid if the property is sold or transferred within 5 years. Head of housing Maureen Harkin said the problems were down to a number of factors, including inconsistent management and poor productivity. At a housing subcommittee meeting, Cllr Eric Owen said: If we could be taking rents of 50 a week it would work out at a loss of 500,000 for the year so far.. "This is due to a combination of more new placements and fewer households moving on. The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership exists to help bring private sector empty homes back into use. , 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. Including the cost of Council Tax, security boarding and potential lost rent, it is estimated that it costs around 7,000 a year to leave a home empty. 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 . And according to the document, the 'Council Fund' has an operating surplus of almost 700,000. This is in the form of an interest free loan to cover works which bring the property up to the Decent Homes Standard. 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. 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. A Gannett Company. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. 10. That initiative falls under the Town . The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. Chief housing officer Neal Cockerton said in a report the 2,600 sheltered accommodation properties accounted for just over a third of Flintshire's housing stock. Flintshire County Council retains tenancy rights for the duration of the agreement. ", The current site of the Cardiff bus station is to become the new home for BBC Cymru Wales. More than 2m has been spent on bringing empty council homes in Flintshire back into use last year. A , 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. The reasons behind the current void backlog, the challenges both pre and post-COVID that restricted the council operations, were captured in the previous report on voids presented to Scrutiny in late 2022,alongside planned activity to improve performance. landlords, owner occupiers who pass affordability checks. Flintshire County Council retains tenancy rights for the duration of the agreement. 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. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please The service refurbishes an average 550 empty properties annually, with works varying from minor to major general maintenance and repair works. 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. The proposal aims to tackle the 469 homes currently empty in the Welsh county. 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. 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. Communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles has granted planning permission to a redevelopment of Pinewood Studios that would almost double its capacity. This has the added benefit of bringing the house back into use. This strategy is available at the bottom of this . V Some flats become unsuitable as tenants grow older, the report said. 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. , 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. Is climate change killing Australian wine? Editors' Code of Practice. 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. A proportion of the grant is repayable on sale or transfer if within 5 years. There are currently around 1300 such properties in Flintshire and the Council has published a strategy to encourage owners of empty property to bring them back into use. 2023 BBC. *Stats independent & directly measured by Google, via the Analytics Live API. 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 35,000 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 5 years for rent), Voluntary early repayment may be made at any time. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. contact the editor here. 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. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. , The repairs and maintenance team also utilise these contractors when works are either too large or complex to manage. The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership exists to help bring private sector empty homes back into use. 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Council tax on empty homes and second homes in 2009-2018 Flintshire County Council. F I Y Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, described it as a dereliction of duty. Conwy had 1,155 chargeable second homes but only 1,181, last year, whilst Denbighshire had 397 and 393. 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. Work has begun on a 3.1m redevelopment of Aberystwyth railway station in Mid Wales. O That then creates an opportunity for the council to review, modernise and re-occupy these properties. 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. For more information, please follow this link. Figures released by Wrexham Council . Comments have been closed on this article. 2. An example would be, works to remedy serious disrepair, provide modern kitchen . The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Maximum loan of 10,000 subject to eligibility testing and loan assessment. Some flats become unsuitable as tenants grow older, the report said. Interested applicants should complete an Expression of Interest Form - please download the form below. Comments have been closed on this article. U 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. Flintshire Council headquarters at County Hall, Mold. VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line. Analysis showed "a series of issues where some of the schemes appear unpopular", resulting in a high turnover and properties left empty. Work to turn the former Co-operative store in Newcastle into shops, leisure facilities and a hotel in a 17m redevelopment have begun. 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. 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. synonyms. budget, as well as approving a transfer of 200,000 from a contingency reserve to replenish the authority's Winter Maintenance Reserve. The number of empty council houses in Wrexham has risen amid efforts to carry out more extensive repairs, a new report has shown. 2014, *Stats independent & directly measured by Google, via the Analytics Live API. More than 2m has been spent on bringing empty council homes in Flintshire back into use last year. The authority is now planning a more flexible role for its wardens so that they can better respond to the needs of the elderly people they care for. 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. M 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. 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. 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. A Gannett Company. London Borough of Lambeth: P Chief housing officer Neal Cockerton said in a report the 2,600 sheltered accommodation properties accounted for just over a third of Flintshire's housing stock. We have looked at releasing them back into general need but because of where they are and their allocation, we have to be careful. The portfolio of empty houses includes 27 in Jasmine Crescent, Mold, which are being demolished to make way for a housing complex for the elderly. For owners of vacant properties to bring up to lettable standard, in eligible areas, to be occupied by Council nominated tenants for 5 years. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. 69 other terms for empty house - words and phrases with similar meaning. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. An empty home need to be looked after as much as one which is lived in. We use cookies on your computer or mobile device to help make this website better. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? , By Liam Randall Local Democracy Reporter. A 100 million fund has been announced by Kris Hopkins, housing minister, which would enable council tenants to exert more control over their homes. The Housing and Assets Service housing stock consists of around 7,300 properties. Part furnished. 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. Something went wrong, please try again later. The Welsh Government has launched a new Loan scheme offering financial support to owners of private properties. X On completion of the works, the property meets the Decent Homes Standard. 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. The borough council last night confirmed a total 16 former. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? J They might also call it 'social housing'. FLINTSHIRE has more than 200 empty council properties even though theres a waiting list of 4,000 people desperate for homes. Furthermore, the report also urges councillors to reduce the age of eligibility for sheltered housing from 60 to 55, in line with local housing associations. Sign up to our free newsletter for the top North Wales stories sent straight to your e-mail. , Get notified about news from across North Wales, Long delays on A55 in Flintshire following a collision, Ewloe glamping pods plan refused due concerns over impact on open countryside, 24 hour support and advice helpline now available to individuals with autism and neurodivergence, Hospice appeal for volunteers at the ESSAR Chester Half Marathon, Youngsters commend north Wales health board for its commitment to improving patient experience, Cost of Living Crisis: Home appliance costs surge for UK families, Transport watchdog demands urgent action from Transport for Wales to improve rail service reliability, NEWSAR: Phone Find technology helps locate person in need of help in Deeside countryside. Property must be covered by buildings insurance until the loan is repaid. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, 1st Floor, Chartist Tower, Upper Dock Street, Newport, Wales, NP20 1DW Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. 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The Welsh Government has launched a new Home Improvement Loan scheme offering financial support to owners of private properties. Empty properties. Cat-and-mouse chase with China in hotly contested sea, Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. 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. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Council holds share of property to be repaid on sale or transfer within 2-5 years. 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. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. 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. People are desperate for houses and they can see these properties boarded up for weeks.. 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. 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. Please report any comments that break our rules. 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. Max: 25,000 per unit of accommodation (150,000 per applicant maximum). If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to FOIA Request - Wales 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. , The council experiences 400-500 void properties per year and, overall, the cost of bringing these back into a lettable standard equates to approximately 2,300,000 per year. I believe the one in Lixwm is being considered for a lady with disabilities, said Coun Yale. "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. Natural Resources Wales: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Owner Occupier Loans Housing Regeneration. , Chief officer for housing and assets, Neal Cockerton, said the agreed payment rates are shortly due to lapse and need renewing. antonyms. Dear Mr Evans, I write to acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information request which has been given the reference number R013477. However, there are many reasons why properties become vacant long term and the Council wants to help owners to bring these homes back into use. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 2014. N We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Z, Copyright 2023 Clackmannanshire Council This is in the form of an interest free loan to cover works which bring the property up to the Decent Homes Standard. The concern has been raised after the number of households across Flintshire which needed temporary accommodation more than doubled over three months. Kilncraigs, Alloa, Clackmannanshire, FK10 1EBTel: 01259 450000Email: customerservice@clacks.gov.uk. Maximum loan per applicant 150,000. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. 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. This is designed to cover works which bring the property up to the Decent Homes Standard. At a. These include empty homes: 4 bedroom detached house to rent Gardd Eithin, Northop Hall, Flintshire, CH7. But, the re-tendering exercise will 'increase resilience', whilst ensuring newly procured contractors are held accountable to performance targets. 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. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. Loans can be provided for the purpose of improving a residential property to/for: Up to 5 years for landlord loan, 7 years for owner occupiers, HILs can be drawndown by loan recipients in advance, in stages or on completion of the improvement works. Couple flee to North Wales after being taunted about sex life, Alex and Carla Salt even called police over the comments, Mum who felt ill after returning from North Wales holiday died suddenly days later, Ashleigh De-Andrade had enjoyed a family holiday at the Hafan y Mr Holiday Park in Pwllheli, Contestant on The 1% Club had perfect response after Lee Mack joked about Wrexham AFC, Wendy Evans said she would have invested her winnings into the club if Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney hadn't come along, Delivery driver who killed cyclist in crash among criminals locked up in April, Judges jailed offenders for a range of serious crimes in North Wales last month, Tourist says Snowdon is 'too steep' and would be 'better in Cornwall', Another reviewer said they couldn't believe how many people 'were crouching down having a poo on the way up', LIVE: Major delays on A55 amid reports of three-vehicle crash, Long queues are building on the eastbound carriageway, Young man knocked unconscious during street attack in Abersoch, Police are now urging anyone with CCTV to come forward, Products recalled from Amazon, Argos, Co-op and eBay over 'safety concerns', Food, toys and tools are among the items listed, Dr Michael Mosley explains which 'anti-ageing' foods you should eat every day, He has long been famed for his diet advice, No Mow May: People urged to avoid cutting their lawns this month, It could prove to be very beneficial to nature, The best way to spend a day in the popular coastal town of Porthmadog, It might be tucked away towards the western edge of Gwynedd - but it's well worth travelling to, Sprawling 13 acre estate with stunning views could be yours for 1.2m, The luxurious farmhouse and adjacent holiday cottage occupy a scenic spot overlooking the River Elwy, Loving tributes paid to Llandudno teenager following tragic death, Bikers are now being asked to escort Odin Brown on his 'last ride', I tried four packets of crisps released for the Coronation and one was fit for a king, We tried crisps from Tyrrells, M&S, Asda and Morrisons, We compared Diet Coke with supermarket cola to see which was closest to the real thing, Products from Aldi, Sainsbury's, Lidl, Asda, Morrisons and Tesco were sampled, Award-winning dish at one of North Wales' cosiest pubs is a rollercoaster of flavour, 'Sitting there eating it I felt like one of the judges on MasterChef', Coronation allegiance oath in support of King tone deaf, pressure group says, It was described as a 'gesture that holds the people in contempt', HMO for tourism workers being proposed in Snowdonia due to lack of affordable housing, Competition for accommodation and the need for workers at tourist sites is causing issues, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney fuel Gareth Bale to Wrexham dream with new message, The club's Hollywood co-owners have been trying to lure the Champions League winner out of retirement, I made King Charles' coronation quiche and it was absolutely delicious, The King and Queen Consort personally chose the recipe ahead of next week's coronation. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, 1st Floor, Chartist Tower, Upper Dock Street, Newport, Wales, NP20 1DW Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. Empty properties or 'voids' happen when a tenant leaves one of the council's owned housing units. 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. , The total value for the framework period is an estimated 11,500,000. 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. 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. MORE than a dozen council properties have stood empty for years - costing Flintshire thousands of pounds in lost rental income. B 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. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. All monies will be paid to you on provision of a Contractor(s) invoice on completion of the works. FLINTSHIRE has more than 200 empty council properties - even though there's a waiting list of 4,000 people desperate for homes. A new council scheme could see owners of dilapidated or empty buildings in Flintshire being forced to sell. 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.

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