City cuts number of empty homes

Jul 30 2007 By Neil Elkes, Birmingham Mail

THE number of empty homes in Birmingham has been slashed by a third in a hard-hitting drive to reduce homelessness.

More than 6,000 privately-owned empty houses have been filled since a city council crackdown was launched three years ago.

A new team was formed to target landlords and homeowners who were allowing properties to lie idle while lists of families needing homes increased.

Now the total of vacant properties has slumped from more than 18,000 in 2003 to 12,559. And more than 20 empty homes have been seized by the council already this year.

City housing chief Coun John Lines, hailed the result, which put Birmingham as Britain's best-performing major city for housing occupancy.

"We are committed to providing more home and am I pleased the number of empty homes continues to fall," he said.

"Having 12,000 homes empty is still too many and there is some way to go, but it is a considerable improvement since 2003.

"I am confident major improvements will continue to be made."

A five-bedroom Victorian terrace in leafy Moseley and a two-bedroom semi in Wash-wood Heath were among the 23 homes seized by the council this year.

Coun Lines said the authority would first encourage and help home owners to bring their properties up to scratch for rent or sale.

But he warned compulsory purchase orders would continue to be used as a last result use for those who refused to cooperate.

"In many cases, these homes have become a focus for anti-social behaviour, attracting complaints from residents, whose quality of life has suffered due to living next door," he said.