Tackling empty homes 2025-2030 - Strategic aims, objectives and key actions

The aims of this approach are to:

• aim to achieve a 20% reduction of long-term empty homes by the end date of this approach (March 2030)

• to maintain accurate information about the number of long-term empty properties

• reduce the number of long-term empty homes in Hart

• to offer a wider housing choice to residents and help meet housing need within the council

• to provide advice and information to help raise awareness and address issues around empty homes

To achieve our aims this approach focuses on three objectives.

Objective one - To maintain accurate information about the number of long-term empty properties
• access to accurate information on empty properties is an essential part of effective prevention. The Council will use primary data such as Council Tax information, councillor and officer knowledge and local intelligence to build up a register of empty properties and their condition.

Objective two - Bring empty properties back into use to increase the supply of quality, affordable homes for residents in housing need
• the Council offers practical advice to homeowners of empty properties wishing to rent their property through the rental support scheme. This Scheme helps landlords and prospective landlords to rent their properties to prospective tenants who are seeking good quality, affordable, private rented accommodation.
• the Council will consider using legal action where appropriate to bring about the return of empty homes to occupation.

Objective three - Provide advice and information to help raise awareness and address issues around empty properties
• One of the most significant measures in ensuring properties do not remain empty is the engagement with the owners of empty properties and providing beneficial advice and assistance

How we will measure success

The Council recognises that it has a limited influence on factors such as housing market forces, which may affect the number of homes becoming empty in the district. It is expected that there will be fluctuations in the number of homes that become empty during the lifespan of this approach, 2025 -2030. The Council will therefore aim to achieve a 20% reduction of long-term empty homes by the end date (March 2030), of this approach. The Council Tax data recorded in September 2024 of 355 long-term empty homes, will be used as a starting point and council officers will work towards reducing this number.

We will also set up measures to record the number of long-term empty homes brought back into use, directly or indirectly through the Council’s actions, to report the number of cases where enforcement action is commenced and to report the number of long-term empty homes in the district.

The success of this approach also depends on effective working within the teams and engagement with owners of empty homes or those responsible for the empty homes.