Ninety-nine empty private sector homes have been brought back into use in the last year thanks to the work of the council’s Empty Properties team.
Empty homes continue to be on the increase across the UK as figures show 700,000 homes in England that are unfurnished and standing empty, not including short-lets and second homes.
In Brighton & Hove, the most recent snapshot figures indicate that 861 homes were empty between 1 and 5 years, 56 homes were empty between 5 and 10 years with 8 homes empty for more than 10 years.
Empty properties are not only a wasted resource during the time when so many people experience housing uncertainty but can also blight neighbourhoods and cause distress for those living nearby.
As part of Empty Homes Week, which takes place from Monday 3 March to Sunday 9 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.
There can be complex and personal reasons why people leave a property empty in Brighton & Hove, so the aim of our Empty Properties team is to collaborate and work holistically 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 2024, we set the 100% council tax premium applicable to long-term empty and unfurnished properties to come in after a year.
This means that unfurnished empty homes now become liable to pay double council tax after being empty for one year. This increases to 300% council tax liability after 5 years and 400% for properties empty for 10 years.
Furnished properties are liable to pay double council tax immediately they’re left empty.
We will also be introducing a new 100% council tax premium on second homes in the city from 1 April this year. Councillors agreed to introduce this premium on the earliest date national regulations allow.
The options for councils to apply premiums on second homes and long-term empty properties were 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 homes to bring them back into use.
Councillor Gill Williams, Cabinet member for Housing and New Homes, said: “Its’ great to see the amazing work our Empty Properties team’s been doing over the last year, breathing new life into almost 100 abandoned properties across the city.
“This is a fantastic achievement which will not only change lives of those who now get to call them home, but also transform the area for the better by avoiding the buildings falling into disrepair or attracting anti-social behaviour.
“I’m also very pleased we will soon be introducing Council Tax premiums on second homes, in addition to the premiums on long-term empty homes we’ve introduced last 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 need in the city.
“With the supply of housing in Brighton & Hove limited, we desperately need to make sure all empty properties are brought back into use. If you’re aware of a property in the city that has become empty or derelict, please do let us know.”
