Lancaster City Council has recently adopted an Empty Homes Strategy to address the issue of around 800 long-term vacant properties in the Lancaster and Morecambe area. According to estimates from Lancaster City Council, the area’s empty property rate is higher than the national average, at around 3.4 per cent of properties.
The initiative aims to bring 60 empty homes back into use annually, with a particular focus on the West End of Morecambe.
The Empty Homes Strategy will employ a multifaceted approach, ‘taking proactive steps with home-owners, employing enforcement action when necessary and exploring financial and collaborative solutions to support this work’.
One of the main approaches is the introduction of council tax premiums based on the duration a property remains unoccupied. Notably, properties vacant for over a decade could face a council tax premium of up to 400%.
Similar initiatives have been used by councils up and down the country to address to country-wide issue of vacant dwellings. Figures from 2022 to 2023 suggest the number of vacant dwellings in England rose by 22,822 (+3.4%) to the highest total since 2012.
By focusing on existing structures rather than new developments, the council aims to revitalise neighbourhoods and address housing needs within the community.
It is hoped that reducing the number of empty homes in the area will help to enhance community well-being, safety, and local pride whilst transforming unoccupied properties into valuable assets.
Whilst some of the methods may prove to be unpopular, initiatives to improve areas where there are high levels of vacant properties are important for local property markets.
The team at Matthew Parkinson Surveyors is equipped to assist property owners / potential purchasers with survey and valuation reports. Where long-term vacant properties come to market, we can help with detailed surveys and professional advice.
For more information on the range of services we offer, which include Homebuyer Surveys, Building Survey Reports and Valuation Reports, please get in touch.
