I just love the council's double standards, they have the cheek to poke their nose into empty properties, yet with so many needing rental and purchasing a home they fail to address new build houses and flats being sold to out-of-area occupants.
They can bring in policies that would ensure that new developments would be sold to locals at affordable prices, both houses, and flats, yet when one councillor brought this forward to the council they rejected it.
It would mean that developers had to provide a certain amount of affordable homes in houses and flats and would only get permission to do this if they provided a large chunk as affordable for locals only.
But instead, they ignore this, allowing Greenbelt and Historic Buildings to be torn down and family homes for Carparks, Housing Association Flats and more.
Either you care or you do not, so these double standards are a joke.
CONWY County Borough Council is highlighting the assistance available to owners of empty properties, including commercial premises, to help unlock housing potential.
Conwy has around 1,700 households on its waiting list for all types of properties, with all of these households in a housing need.
At any one time, the county has around 2,500 privately owned, empty properties, with many of these temporarily empty and coming back into use within a few months.
Yet more than 1,500 remain empty for longer than six months and some for many years, whilst many households are struggling to find affordable accommodation in the area.
The Council’s Empty Homes Officers are encouraging empty property owners to get in touch to find out about the help that could be available to bring the wasted resource of these empty properties back into use.
The Council has an interest-free property improvement loan of up to £35,000 available for properties that have been empty for six months or more which need work to enable them to be sold or let at the end of refurbishment.
There are also grants of up to £20,000 available to help with the cost of necessary work to properties that have been empty for six months (or where someone is purchasing a property that has been empty for six months), and are willing to rent the property to people in housing need, at an affordable rate, for at least five years.
Leasing schemes are also available for empty properties, and grants range from £5,000 to £25,000 (maximum available if the property has been empty for six months or more) to complete works identified by the Council, in exchange for a lease of the property (five to 20 years).
During which time repairs and maintenance are covered, the rent is guaranteed and full management and support are provided to tenants.
There is ongoing advice and support for landlords from the local authority too, with regular Landlord Forums an ideal opportunity for landlords to find out about any schemes or funding that may be available, changes in legislation, health, and safety requirements Rent Smart Wales obligations, energy efficiency, and to give general advice and good practice guidance on all aspects of renting property.
For more information, property owners can visit the Council website, or contact the Council’s Empty Homes Officers 01492 574633 or 01492 574235 or emptyhomes@conwy.gov.uk.
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