Empty homes scheme

OWNERS of empty houses could be forced to bring them back into use for people on the council’s waiting list under new powers.

Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) will be used to take action against owners, if councillors agree next week.

The orders would allow Oldham Council to carry out any necessary work and put tenants in, reclaiming the cost of improvements from the rent.

The move would form part of the council’s empty homes strategy, one aim of which is to use legal powers to force owners of problem houses to act.

Oldham would become one of only a handful of councils to use the orders, but councillors will be told that in the majority of cases in other local authorities, owners have either sold or rented the houses if threatened with an EDMO.

The orders have two stages — the first allows the council to step into the shoes of the owner for a year, under a voluntary arrangement, to get the house rented out.

But if the owner still hasn’t got the home back into use after 12 months, the council can get a final order, and pay to make the home lettable.

The owner does not pay the costs, but the council reclaims its expenses from the rent, paying the rest to the owner.

The first mini-scheme will be tested with First Choice Homes Oldham managing a batch of 10 properties already owned by the council.

A similar arrangement will then be offered to all owners of empty private homes.

Another initiative is enforced sales, where the council will try to reclaim any outstanding charges against the property, by forcing the owner to sell and pay the debt.

Oldham Cabinet will also hear on Monday that people who inherit a house, but have no money to bring it up to a decent standar,d will be offered help.

The council is suggesting using equity loans to improve them, then use of the council’s bond’s scheme to protect owners against possible damage while the house is let.

The loan can be paid back at any time by the owner so that the property stays within the family.