N Upstairs flats also became unsuitable for elderly tenants over time as they became less mobile, it added. The reasons behind the current void backlog, the challenges both pre and post-COVID that restricted the council operations, were captured in the previous report on voids presented to Scrutiny in late 2022,alongside planned activity to improve performance. The authority's housing revenue account however forecasts an expenditire of 3.1m higher than was budgeted for. And according to the document, the 'Council Fund' has an operating surplus of almost 700,000. Read about our approach to external linking. Council Tax discounts and reduction: Empty properties | GOV.WALES Loans can be provided for the purpose of improving a residential property to/for: Up to 5 years for landlord loan, 7 years for owner occupiers, HILs can be drawndown by loan recipients in advance, in stages or on completion of the improvement works. Council tax on empty homes and second homes in 2009-2018 Flintshire County Council. , The council experiences 400-500 void properties per year and, overall, the cost of bringing these back into a lettable standard equates to approximately 2,300,000 per year. I know of four people who have tried to rent it and two people who tried to buy it. Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, described it as a dereliction of duty. Repayment will be reduced by 20% for each full year elapsed since the completion date, Flintshire County Council retains tenancy rights for 5 years and property must be managed by, Landlords participating will be encouraged to join the, Maximum grant of 20,000 subject to eligibility testing and loan assessment, A proportion of the grant is repaid on sale or transfer of the property within 5 years, If the property is Let then the property must be free of, If the recipient sells the property during the term of the HIL the loan must be immediately repaid in full. Is climate change killing Australian wine? We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. Applying for a Council Tax discount or reduction. G X The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. The fund, made available to Councils in Wales, enables the Council to provide short to medium term loans to owners of sub-standard properties who pass affordability criteria and who are restricted by other sources of finance. Flintshire has approximately 500 long term empty properties; the Empty Property Grant is a loan to help owners bring empty properties back in to use. Applicant must have sufficient equity within their property to cover the loan amount, Applicants property must be long term vacant (over 6 months) and the Council satisfied that a housing need exists in the area, Property must be tenanted until the loan is released, Property owner must agree to the property being managed by a social lettings agency. Bedsits were also "generally unpopular" with older tenants and tended to be used as short-term accommodation. Lists. T We use cookies on your computer or mobile device to help make this website better. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can The council said if plans were approved it could settle debts to the council, such as council tax arrears, by putting vacant or run-down properties up for auction. It means they will not be tied to council-owned warden accommodation, but can live anywhere. O Flintshire Council headquarters at County Hall, Mold. Read 327,693 times in last 30 days Have Your Say - Council Tax Premium - Flintshire Cat-and-mouse chase with China in hotly contested sea, Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. Sign up to our free newsletter for the top North Wales stories sent straight to your e-mail. The average age of the council's housing stock is considered to be some of the oldest in the United Kingdom and they are also considerably older than many nearby Local Housing Associations' housing stock. A review by Flintshire County Council showed some schemes were not popular. Be warned, it can be a lengthy and difficult process and there are many complicated reasons why a home might be empty. , The repairs and maintenance team also utilise these contractors when works are either too large or complex to manage. This is in the form of an interest free loan to cover works which bring the property up to the Decent Homes Standard. Bedsits were also "generally unpopular" with older tenants and tended to be used as short-term accommodation. A new council scheme could see owners of dilapidated or empty buildings in Flintshire being forced to sell. Including the cost of Council Tax, security boarding and potential lost rent, it is estimated that it costs around 7,000 a year to leave a home empty. FOIA Request - Wales Council set to pull out of managed lettings, Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine, Air strikes pound Sudan capital as truce extended, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies. A 100 million fund has been announced by Kris Hopkins, housing minister, which would enable council tenants to exert more control over their homes. . Max: 35,000 per unit of accommodation (150,000 per applicant maximum). Committee chairman Cllr Ron Hampson said: This is the biggest problem weve got. Launched in 2014, Deeside.com is an independent online news and information website. It doesnt make sense.. The Welsh Government has launched a new Loan scheme offering financial support to owners of private properties. A review by Flintshire County Council showed some . A review by Flintshire County Council showed some schemes were not popular. contact the editor here. , The most economically advantageous tenderer, based on price and quality will be allocated work as first choice and this will continue unless the client feels the tenderers financial threshold is exceeded. , The councils cabinet will be asked to agree on the new framework at a meeting tomorrow, Tuesday 17 July. An "excessive" number of empty sheltered homes is costing a council nearly a quarter of a million pounds a year in lost rent, officers say. The report projects how the authority's budget would stand at the close of the financial year, without new actions to reduce cost pressures and/or improve the financial return on efficiency planning and cost control. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's The Voids Action Plan was discussed during theCommunity andHousing Overview andScrutiny Committee meeting held on Wednesday, March 8. 01244 725688. More than 2m spent on repairing empty council houses in Flintshire On top of the loss, the council is spending 3,500 on bringing each property up to standard. S 'Void Management Plan' discussed by Flintshire councillors The Welsh Government has confirmed it will withdraw its detailed policy on planning for sustainable buildings at the end of next month (July). As well as that, the longer a property is empty the less valuable it becomes. Please report any comments that break our rules. Sign up to our free newsletter for the top North Wales stories sent straight to your e-mail. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to Ratepayers are footing the bill for the 217 void properties, which are estimated to be losing Flintshire County Council 1.5m in rent a year. Chief housing officer Neal Cockerton said in a report the 2,600 sheltered accommodation properties accounted for just over a third of Flintshire's housing stock. Wrexham Glyndwr University set to rebrand as Prifysgol Wrecsam/Wrexham University. READ MORE:Flintshire Council set to reduce pesticide use to support wildlife. Flintshire claims it is one of the first authorities in Wales to have a person working solely on turning around empty homes using money specifically set aside to renovate dilapidated properties. Applicant must have sufficient equity within their property to cover the loan amount/or offer a different property with sufficient equity for security, Applicants property must be long term vacant (over 6 months), Property must be tenanted until the loan is released or sold, On completion of the works, the property must be habitable and of a lettable standard (no, Property must be covered by buildings insurance until the loan is repaid, Maximum loan of 25,000 subject to eligibility testing and loan assessment, The Council holds a share of the property value, to the cost of the works, Loan is repaid on sale or transfer (maximum loan term is 2 years for sale and 3 years for rent), Voluntary early repayment may be made at any time. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Comments have been closed on this article. Challenges faced by the council included the availability of skilled resources, raw materials and linked price increases, all of which impacts negatively on void delivery and turnaround times. Is climate change killing Australian wine? Furthermore, the report also urges councillors to reduce the age of eligibility for sheltered housing from 60 to 55, in line with local housing associations. A new council scheme could see owners of dilapidated or empty buildings in Flintshire being forced to sell. C If a property is empty longer than 6 months, the Council tax payments are affected. PO5: 48,747 pa (including London Weighting) rising in annual increments to 51,783 pa: Read about our approach to external linking. Flintshire has approximately 500 long term empty properties; the Empty Property Grant is a loan to help owners bring empty properties back in to use. London Borough of Lambeth: The result was lost rent of 242,492 in 2018-19, the report said, equivalent to 2.2% of the 11.3m raised from sheltered accommodation tenants. Maximum loan of 10,000 subject to eligibility testing and loan assessment. For owners of vacant properties to bring up to lettable standard, in eligible areas, to be occupied by Council nominated tenants for 5 years. 2014, *Stats independent & directly measured by Google, via the Analytics Live API. By viewing our content you are accepting MORE than a dozen council properties have stood empty for years - costing Flintshire thousands of pounds in lost rental income. For owners of 6months plus, surveyed as non-decent vacant residential properties to bring up to lettable standard, to be occupied by Council nominated tenants. U You can apply for a home through your local council. The authority is now planning a more flexible role for its wardens so that they can better respond to the needs of the elderly people they care for. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. 2014. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, Explosion derails train in Russian border region, Banana artwork in Seoul museum eaten by visitor, Trump says 'great to be home' on visit to Scotland, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Indian 'killer' elephant relocated to tiger reserve, Ding becomes China's first male world chess champion. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, 1st Floor, Chartist Tower, Upper Dock Street, Newport, Wales, NP20 1DW Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. Average costs for refurbishment of void properties range from 1,500 for a minor void to an average of 9,000 for a major void property. A Gannett Company. VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line. This has a number of cross cutting service links through Housing Management, fromthe refurbishment of the void to prepare it for reoccupation and the re-letting of the property to those on the General Housing Register. Empty properties. The borough council last night confirmed a total 16 former warden properties have been empty, some for several years, while the authority considered its sheltered housing policy. 10. Lambeth has a fantastic variety of areas, stretching from prominent riverside locations in the north such as Waterloo/South Bank and Vauxhall Houses to rent in Flintshire | OnTheMarket Flintshire County Council's Social Services department Housing Apply for a Council house and find other advice relating to Flintshire County Council's Housing services Jobs and. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Good for the local economy I hope!! Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. Empty Homes. I This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. New BBC Wales HQ to be built on Cardiff bus station, Housing fund puts power back in tenants' hands, Regeneration of Newcastle's Co-op building begins. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. D This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. Questions were raised over whether or not more regular inspections needed to be carried out in order to ensure that any damage done by tenants was kept to a minimum. The borough council last night confirmed a total 16 former. 4. The council said if plans were approved it could settle debts to the council, such as council tax arrears, by putting vacant or run-down properties up for auction. This is in the form of an interest free loan to cover works which bring the property up to the Decent Homes Standard. P An example would be, works to remedy serious disrepair, provide modern kitchen and bathroom facilities, improve heating systems and insulation, and to remove any serious hazards which could affect the well-being of the occupier, such as dampness, dangerous stairs or electrical wiring. Empty council homes costing Flintshire thousands Empty homes are a waste of resource. This is in the form of an interest free loan to cover works which bring the property up to the Decent Homes Standard. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Empty properties. Work has begun on a 3.1m redevelopment of Aberystwyth railway station in Mid Wales. Empty properties could be used to address 'significant increase' in the use of cookies. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. J FLINTSHIRE has more than 200 empty council properties - even though there's a waiting list of 4,000 people desperate for homes. During the meeting this week, Housing Services manager Sean O'Donnell said the maintarget now was to 'address the backlog in voids and increase resilience' in terms of contractors. Cabinet member for housing, councillor Helen Brown, said: "It is no longer acceptable for properties to remain empty when the need for housing is increasing. The Voids Action Plan was. At a housing subcommittee meeting, Cllr Eric Owen said: If we could be taking rents of 50 a week it would work out at a loss of 500,000 for the year so far.. Analysis showed "a series of issues where some of the schemes appear unpopular", resulting in a high turnover and properties left empty. VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line, Why an Indian comedian is challenging fake news rules. Read about our approach to external linking. synonyms. Something went wrong, please try again later. With this policy the council can begin moving forward to address the issue of vacant homes whilst also recovering monies it is owed. An example would be, works to remedy serious disrepair, provide modern kitchen and bathroom facilities, improve heating systems and insulation, and to remove any serious hazards which could affect the well-being of the occupier, such as dampness, dangerous stairs or electrical wiring. It is the responsibility of home owners to maintain their property and to keep it in good order. The role in Development Management provide a perfect opportunity for successful candidate to thrive and progress in their planning career Council holds share of property to be repaid on sale or transfer within 2-3 years. 2. Speaking before the meeting, Cllr Bernie Attridge said: This is absolutely dreadful. This equates. FLINTSHIRE councillors have discussed what the next steps are for empty houses throughout the county - after a two year struggle due to various complications. The project is funded by the Scottish Government and housed by Shelter Scotland. Empty Homes - Clackmannanshire Otherwise, we'll assume you're OK to continue. B Upstairs flats also became unsuitable for elderly tenants over time as they became less mobile, it added. Flintshire Council paid approximately 2.3m to bring its vacant social houses back to an appropriate standard for new tenants in the last 12 months . , Get notified about news from across North Wales, Long delays on A55 in Flintshire following a collision, Ewloe glamping pods plan refused due concerns over impact on open countryside, 24 hour support and advice helpline now available to individuals with autism and neurodivergence, Hospice appeal for volunteers at the ESSAR Chester Half Marathon, Youngsters commend north Wales health board for its commitment to improving patient experience, Cost of Living Crisis: Home appliance costs surge for UK families, Transport watchdog demands urgent action from Transport for Wales to improve rail service reliability, NEWSAR: Phone Find technology helps locate person in need of help in Deeside countryside. . Buying an empty home can seem like a daunting and painstaking prospect for some people, although can provide excellent bargains, particularly for those who are looking for properties to renovate themselves. Kilncraigs, Alloa, Clackmannanshire, FK10 1EBTel: 01259 450000Email: customerservice@clacks.gov.uk. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, Banana artwork in Seoul museum eaten by visitor, Explosion derails train in Russian border region, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Trump says 'great to be home' on visit to Scotland, Indian 'killer' elephant relocated to tiger reserve, Ding becomes China's first male world chess champion. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. They might also call it 'social housing'. the use of cookies. An "excessive" number of empty sheltered homes is costing a council nearly a quarter of a million pounds a year in lost rent, officers say. Please note you will be required to manage the project yourself, including seeking competitive quotes, arranging an asbestos survey, managing the work on site and ensuring that all the work is completed to your satisfaction and meets any legislative requirements in place.Please note that the loan is discretionary and an offer of a loan cannot be guaranteed until the applicant has received formal notice of approval. If your application is accepted, you'll go on to a waiting list of people who need a council home. We use cookies to improve your experience. On completion of the works, the property meets the Decent Homes Standard. He said: Many old and vulnerable adults rely on the support and friendship from resident wardens.. On completion of the works, the property meets the, Maximum loan of 10,000 subject to eligibility testing and loan assessment, Loan is repaid on sale or transfer or cessation of nomination rights. Any properties where tenants refuse access needs to be reported to housing management.". Council set to pull out of managed lettings, Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Air strikes pound Sudan capital as truce extended. The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership exists to help bring private sector empty homes back into use. FLINTSHIRE has more than 200 empty council properties even though theres a waiting list of 4,000 people desperate for homes. We serve those towns and villages in Flintshire which lie close to River Dee in North East Wales and the border with neighbouring Chester in England.
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