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Stockport Council is recognising Empty Homes Week, which this year runs from 28 February to 6 March, and aims to raise awareness of long-term empty homes.
Tackling empty properties maximises the properties available in the borough and improves communities. The supply of housing in Stockport is unable to match the projected demand: bringing empty properties back into use is one way of meeting this shortfall.
Cllr Sheila Bailey, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport, said:
“The demand for property in the borough is high and increasing so we cannot afford for properties to stand empty when they could be providing much needed homes. Many properties that have been empty for a long period of time fall into a state of disrepair and are a blight on our communities.
“If you have a property that is currently empty and has not been lived in for some time, or know of a property that is not being lived in, please get in touch with us.”
Owners of empty properties remain responsible for payment of Council Tax, insurance and utility standing charges, as well as the costs of any repairs. An empty home premium on top of the full Council Tax charge for your property for those that have lain empty for over two years, up to an additional 300% of the full Council Tax charge.
Where empty properties have been identified, Stockport Council can work informally with owners to bring those properties back into use, offering advice on sale, leasing and renting properties, and refurbishment. The Council can also use formal action including compulsory purchase and enforced sale to bring homes back into use.