Council determined to resolve housing crisis in Coventry

Coventry Council is to take extra measures to bring empty houses in the city back into use and help increase the availability of good quality homes to meet the city’s housing needs.

The provision of housing for Coventry residents is a priority for the Council. A new Empty Dwellings Strategy will see a significant five-year plan to reduce the number of long-term vacant properties – those homes that have been empty for six months or more.

A new empty dwellings officer will be recruited in the coming weeks to coordinate how different services link together between housing and enforcement services. More work will also be done with private landlords to help identify innovative ways to get properties back into use.

The strategy will focus on coming to agreements with owners and working with them to come up with a future plan for the property. When a home has been empty for six months or more, the Council will contact the owner to find out why and ask about their plans.

Councillor David Welsh, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said: “We want to put extra resources in to bring empty properties back in use, and that’s why we are recruiting to a new dedicated post to coordinate this work”. 

The strategy will also aim to publicise and engage with property owners to clearly understand the latest legislation and their responsibilities to maintain property standards. In addition, the new policy will fit in with Coventry’s Local Plan and help improve the housing stock and the quality of life for residents around the city.

Cllr Welsh added, “We know there is a national housing shortage, and this strategy is just one way we can help to tackle that shortage in Coventry. It will allow us to provide homes to people who need them and protect our local environment.”

The Council’s Cabinet will discuss the report outlining the empty home strategy on Tuesday, 31 August.