New move to dust off 5,000 empty homes

MINISTERS are preparing to launch a fresh attempt to bring more of Oldham’s 5,000 empty homes back into use.

The number of vacant properties across the borough has reached 5,036, according to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

Local authorities already have powers, under the 2004 Housing Act, to issue empty dwelling management orders to take control of properties sat empty for more than six months.

They may then charge market rates for rent and use the income to carry out repairs and refurbishments where necessary.

In extreme cases, and as a last resort, councils may issue the ultimate sanction — a compulsory purchase order — to take ownership of a property.

The DCLG figures suggest the powers have failed to bring enough empty homes back into use while thousands languish on waiting lists.

Now. the Government has confirmed it is to make an announcement on how it will bring the empty properties back into use to deal with the housing crisis.

In May, the coalition set out plans, in its joint “programme for Government”, to explore a range of measures to bring empty homes into use.

The Lib-Dems, in particular, made much of the problem of wasted empty properties when in opposition.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas said: “Oldham council has made positive steps to make houses available by using the powers given to them by the Labour Government but clearly the more that can be done the better for everyone.

“MP Michael Meacher and I met with council leader Howard Sykes last month to talk about the issue of housing and empty homes.”

Oldham West and Royton MP Mr Meacher has repeatedly called for an expansion of house building programmes to tackle the huge waiting lists for council homes.

Earlier this year, the then Labour government named and shamed areas for leaving properties empty for more than six months. Oldham was listed as the third worst area across the country for leaving its social housing properties empty.