Southend Council to force owners of empty homes to bring them into use

3:10pm Monday 29th December 2008

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EMPTY homes in Southend are to be brought back into use as soon as possible using new powers.

The Government’s empty dwelling management orders scheme is to be used in Southend from early next month.

An order will be used when the council has been unable to reach agreement with the owner to bring a property back into use.

Up to 20 properties in Southend could be targeted in this way.

The council has contacted the owners, who now have a short amount of time to respond to prevent further action.

South Essex Homes has been awarded the contract by Southend Council to manage the programme to bring empty homes back into use.

Mark Flewitt, Southend councillor responsible for health and housing, said: “Empty homes are of no benefit to any community and this new contract symbolises the measures that are in place to tackle this problem proactively.

“Our joint aim will be to bring as many empty homes back into use as possible.

“An empty home can be a risk of not only vandalism and depreciation, but is also an eyesore for the whole community that live there.”

South Essex Homes, which manages the council’s housing stock, is encouraging people to come forward and report empty homes in their area.

For more information, residents are encouraged to contact the empty homes officer via 01702 215000 or e-mail emptyprop@southend.ac.uk