National Empty Homes Week (5.-9. Dec) run by the independent charity Empty Homes is proving to be a success in London as borough leaders welcome the initiative that should relieve the growing housing shortage.
The charity has teamed up with Architect and Channel 4 presenter George Clarke who is this week launching a campaign to bring Britain’s 350,000 long-term empty homes back into use – “The Great British Property Scandal”.
David Ireland, Empty Homes Chief Executive, is calling on all Councils to help by disposing of their own abandoned housing at discounted prices and for higher council tax to be imposed on long term empty homes and for the revenue generated to be reinvested in bringing more empty homes into use.
Islington Council has responded today by saying they are taking action to return the borough’s estimated 500 empty private properties back into use for local residents and families.
Cllr James Murray, Executive Member for Housing, Islington Council said: “Islington Council agrees with Shelter and the Empty Homes Agency that many of the borough’s empty homes could and should be brought back into use, helping many families and individuals caught up in the capital’s housing crisis. Residents can help us. If you know of an empty property, please tell us and we’ll investigate if it’s one we can bring back into use.”
Click here to report an empty property.
Click here to join the campaign.