Council brings dozens of privately-owned empty homes back into use

Sandwell Council has helped turn dozens of abandoned properties into homes as part of a major push to tackle empty properties across the borough.

The announcement comes as councils across the country mark National Empty Homes Week, demonstrating the work being done to bring wasted empty properties back into use.

The work includes tackling long-term empty properties in Smethwick and West Bromwich over the past 11 months - helping to provide housing for up to 50 local families a year.

There are currently around 1,500 privately-owned properties that have been empty for six months of more in Sandwell. The council’s Empty Homes Strategy sets out a clear ambition to restore 200 of these properties as usable homes over five years - which the council is on-track to achieve.

Already this financial year, 49 long-term empty homes have been returned to use, meaning the council is set to exceed this year’s target of tackling 50 empty properties.

In the previous financial year, 41 long‑term empty properties were made habitable again. This means properties with a total of 239 bedrooms have been made available to local families across Sandwell in less than two years.

The council works closely with the owners of empty properties, offering support to help them sell or rent out their properties.

Where owners are unresponsive or properties cause issues in the community, the council takes enforcement action. This can include Improvement Notices under the Housing Act 2004 or Section 215 Notices under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Four of these notices have been issued over the past financial year, showing most owners of empty properties voluntarily work with the council to sell on their properties to new owners, who then carry out the work to bring them back into use.

Owners who want to rent out their properties can also benefit from the council’s Secure and Sustain scheme, which offers a range of incentives for landlords who let their homes through the council.

Csaid: “This week is National Empty Homes Week and Sandwell Council is committed to bringing privately-owned residential properties that have stood empty for more than six months back into use.

“Making the best use of the homes that we have in Sandwell is a vital part of our work to help address homelessness, and to tackle issues of anti-social behaviour and the impact empty homes have on neighbourhoods.

“Nobody wants an empty property in their street. They can attract vandalism and anti-social behaviour and they have an impact on property values.

“It’s not right that homes sit empty while people are in temporary accommodation. That’s why we’re committed to doing everything we can to make sure vital housing is brought back into use.”