The Empty Homes Agency is an

Research
independentThecampaigning charity
Empty Homes , which
Agency is an

Research
exists to highlight the waste
independent cam pa of empty
igning charity, which
property in England and works withAgency
The Empty Homes others is an

Research
exists to highlight
independent casus
mpa the waste
igning ofwhich
charity, empty
to devise and promote
property in Englatainable
nd andwaste
worksof with others
exists
solutions to to highlight the back empty
tobring
devise
property
empty
and
in
propertysustainable
promote
Engla nd and works with others
into use. solutions to bring empty property
to devise and promote sustainable back
into use. to bring empty property back
solutions
into use.
EHA/Hammersmith & Fulham/ study asked what still needed to be
and 2003 property
MORI Research pric es done toSource:
in bring MORI.
theseBase: All respondents:
remaining empty 179
property, are worthy of additional
Hammersmith and Fulham rose by surveys with some impressive properties back into use, especially
attention
180% compared by local authorities
to 83.5% to help
across when thereThe first
response two
wererates. still options
1,610 families were already
Problem
efforts
Englandto andProperties?
increase Waleshousing Why
and 86% supply.
across A
registeredoffered as byhomeless the Borough, in the and the
homes
London are
minority (source:left empty
of owners Land is worth
Registry). pursuing
Only remaining
Local five
authorities
Borough? The survey concentrated options alreadywere proposed
have the
to assess whether
one respondent in eleven had existing or new new
power services
of
on owners whose properties had to
compulsory owners of
purchase empty of
In a high
servicesdemand may area
inherited the property, w hichencouragefor housing
the owner to property.
long-term private
been empty for more than a year. empty homes. But
such as bring the
challenges theLondon
property
an assumptionBorough
back into use. of most
that This was thetoscale
try and ofexclude
the problem temporary revealed by
Hammersmith
empty property and Fulham, owners are where accidental Only just over a quarter
vo i d s a n d p r o p e r t i e s b e i nfor
this study provides support selected
g a new any
housingIt prices
is also are the
possible fourth
owners. It is also interesting to note that highest
after having of
tool these
to services.
enable
refurbished. The logic being that in an the Over a
temporary half
in the country,
offered
that over why
a asimilarare there
third range
of soofmany
respondents services hadfor a
area expressed
ofmanagement
high demand no of interest
such inproperty.
transactional any of these This
empty homes?
the
mortgage past six The Joseph
on years,
their empty Rowntree
owners who were
property. vacant newservices and
power would
properties one
are bring in
common five left
the property the
Foundation
most financed likely to atake survey them toup had because question
back
of theintohigh useblank with and
turnover clear gave no
of benefits
the to
examinealready
why there
done were
so.
Owners gave a variety of reasons for 845
Indeed private
this reflects preference.
the new tenants,
market but are not necessarily the local community
homes thethat experience
why had been
their property empty thefor
of was more
local
empty: authority
three in indicativeand the local inauthority.
of problems the market. The owner
than onethat year.
ten itrespondents And
is more difficult we wanted
stated to ‘sell’to
that thesetheir Respondents were
would also benefit as the property also asked from
assess products
whether was
property owners
thancurrentlyit wanted
was being help
three of four
repaired, whomtothey
would
In response be wouldsurvey
improved
a postal like andto runreceive
by these
managed for
to bringyears their ago.‘problem In
and 15% and 10% stated that they suchproperties’
cases local services
them at (eg:
no
MORI, 216 questionnaires were cost.local It authority,
would also RSLshow or
back into use,
authorities and will with
need whom
were trying to sell or let their property to work they harder to private
the income sector).
returned from owners of empty benefits From to an
the array
owner of
would prefer
market to these
respectively. work. services These rather findings thanalsojustpropertiesoptions,
utilising
(26%their just
of the 3total)
property.in 10 within selected
the any
publicise
challenge them. previous The local authority
assumptions as to preference
time period, and at there all. were Almost 179half of
Why in should
such an alsoarea of
consult
why property was left empty with veryhigh with demand
this group eligible questionnaires, which formof these
of respondents
In a high did
demand not want
area any
there is no
were owners
property turning
owners
low figures given for not wanting todown
see extra
whether there providers
logical reason and
the basis for the analysis. These to one leave fifth a left
property the
income,is which
trouble the with could
potential be
tenants,realised
to develop by
awaiting new the question
findingsempty
shouldfor blank.
be moreseen as than a year. Even
indicative
using their
products
outcome property?and
of a will After
services
and tax all, this
notreasons.
considered of the views of empty homes owners take
major refurbishment shouldn't
boroughhere,has that the fourthmay be highest rents
more appealing to The results
much
in this Borough. longer than fromthis, theseand the lastrental two
in the this
country.
group. Was it
Respondents were offered a range of that simply questions
and property demonstrate
sales market the limited
are so
having services
a property, albeit empty,
to choose in order to help was Just over potential
strong
one that of
fifth very the
of these existing
few properties and
properties are left new
still a Yet
themsounder
a tomajority
bring investment
the ownersthan
of property were into
back notwere houses and almostThere
services
on the marketto owners.
for long. Inthree
other arewords still
investing in the stock
interested
use: in any exchange of the or aservices owners
these are who are
problem
quarters w ere either flats or willing
properties.to work In with
this
buildingoffered.
society,They and with the potential
are currently gaining as the Borough,
market
maisonettes. if there
One in but ninethat
was of still
not some
these leaves
kind of a
returns their
from property
Reason the rising house prices
is increasing in capital % large hard
problem, were
empty properties core
they either amount
wouldabove of
already owners
a have
no action
value,
Grantwas to butdeemed
pay if they
for repairsnecessary
can’t be persuaded by11 shop, office or commercial premises.in any
who
been remain
put back uninterested
to use.
the owner?
to bring the property back into use, W hen assistance.
asked about the present
Guaranteed rentalneeds
consideration income to be given 11 to Weofare hopeful that the Government
condition their property, three in
Our studywith no involvement
focused on Hammersmith The vast majority of respondents
additional action that could be taken. amendmentbelieved
five respondents to the that Housing their Billsaw on
and Fulham,
Where
Preferential which
the loanhad
ratecarrot already 8is not
to approach a clear
empty direction
dwelling
property was either in a very or fairly for their
management property with
orders
broughtworking,
675payempty
help foran homes back
repairs
effective stick into
is required only have
will
good condition. 13% the of ownersdesiredfailing effectto ofprovide
filling
use in to 6 years
ensure through
the
Professional services to property its is empty
re-used 7 and an
these answer.
problem A third
empty of
homes. respondents
Head Office
propertythe strategy.
manage benefits
repairsmade In this clear time to thetheowner. expect to rent out the property, and Emptya Homes Agency Head Office
authorityHelp/advice
has seen the anumbers
in finding te n- of5 one quarter each
Most respondents had expected bought to or sell, or Victoria
195-197 Empty Street
Homes
HeadAg ency
Office
properties London
ant empty forthat
Assuming morethese than afindingsyear are and one quarter
acquired their property. They either wished to keep it for 195-197
Empty VictoriaAg
Homes Street
ency
SW1E 5NE
195-197 VictoriaLondon
Street
decreasebased from on just aover 1800 in 1997sample,
representative themselves
David Ireland or
intended to live in it themselves or,is family
the and
Private friends
Sector toT: 020 7828 6288SW1E
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London
to 845 in
and 2003.given Thisthatauthority,
the statistical as with reliability use for live
Housing
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friends, manage no
at the indication
the wasF: 020 7828
London T:7006
020SW1E
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the majority
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range
finding a let-+/-7%, had one a1 can given
Borough in the
of survey
Hammersmith
property or use it as an investment. about when
and these F: 020 7828 7006
T: 6288
Northern Office:
F: 020 7828 7006
funded estimate
programme
ting agent that of there workingare between with 346 properties
Fulham
The increasing and would
property Jonathan be
pricesre-occupied.
Ellis
in thisis Chief Empty HomesNorthern
Agency Office:
owners andto lease
None 398
of these empty
properties homes where to helpthe53owner BoroughExecutive
show thatofover the recent
Emptyyears, Homes PO Box
Empty 3609
HomesOffice:
Northern Agency
meet housing need.
is not interested in bringing the We
despiteAgency. concluded
remaining empty, such from our study that Ba rnsley
Empty Hom POes
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ency
Blank 20 S75 1WW PO Ba
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property back into use with any of the such owners
properties have proved to be a sound of empty homes, the
T/F: 01226 390 093S75 Ba1WW
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Despiteservices
this record offeredofonaction, our
the questionnaire. investmentmajority
30th November
decision. of Between
whom 2004 have 1998 made aM: 07719T/F: 79801226
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