The scandal of empty homes when others are homeless

There was a tv programme gillybob, which is what brought it to my awareness.

I'm not sure about compulsory purchase but perhaps a higher council tax on lavish properties which are bought then never lived in?

Yes varian, I do believe that some way to restrict the number of foreign buyers should be found. There are many empty properties in London particularly, owned by Russian or Chinese investors. Its been an easy way of such investors making huge amounts of money for doing nothing.

We need to build more social housing, that's for sure. Nonnie's point about he improvements in some of the council estates where buy to let led to positive changes in th environment is accepted. The downside of that, is that its only in sought after areas where that happens. There are many streets where buy to let soon led to private landlords buying former council houses at very low prices. One result was that former council house tenants who'd been evicted for say drug dealing, moved back in with the rent paid by housing benefit.

Anniebach's point about 2nd homes is well made. I'm not sure that compulsory purchase is the way forward but I do wonder whether its possible to ensure that houses aren't bought by wealthy outsiders as 2nd homes. I'm not sure that would be possible because locals often just can't afford the prices that have been inflated by wealthy outsiders. Maybe there needs to be some kind of scheme whereby the state buys some properties which then become social housing.

I am against compulsory purchasing and buying of a property cannot be prevented but for second homes there should be country wide charging of full council tax. Now it is for to each council to decide to reduce council tax by up to 50% on empty properties or second homes

No council tax reduction whatsoever for empty homes in my region .

Oops........should have said my borough not my region .

I believe many of the flats in the new towers in London, especially in the cheaper boroughs, are buy to let and young people rent these. They are often very small and occupied by flat sharers. At least they are warm and modern, unlike much of the older stock of private and social housing in London.

no council tax reduction here ,full payment unless the house is being renovated and has no kitchen or bathroom for 6 months .If you're buying the six month allowance might not apply if claimed by the previous owner for the same property

In the Channel islands if you get a state home (council in UK) they assess how many bedrooms you need. Friends of my sister had to move from 3 bed to 2 when daughter went to uni, then two years later when son went to 1 bed. They had decorated houses to high standard and put in new kitchen in 3 bed but then given shabby homes when had to swap. Maybe we should do similar as many single old people in 3 bed homes and many families with 3 kids in 2 bed flats. If I had empty home I would not want it taken over by homeless. If I did not let it it would be because I wanted it left empty. Two of my elderly aunts lived together but one still kept her own home empty just in case she fell out with sister or sometimes she just went back to clean and remember. Her house her choice. She paid all taxes due on property.

because most humans are selfish/greedy and have little concern for their fellow man, religions try to address this balance but does that work? look at the stage of religions
even amongst the laity you see all the human struggles for power etc etc

I have buy yo let and if empty you still have to pay council tax nut then you can write off cost of council tax as expense when paying income tax.

It is wrong but there is little profit in building for people on low or hardly any income - I read that many of these luxury developments are still empty because the developers are only getting what they term as 'silly offers' for the accommodation and would rather leave them empty.

Dublin has brought in a new law for landlords. They are not allowed to own lots of properties to use as Air b&b's. They have to rent them out to long term tennants. This is to help the housing shortage in the city. The only people allowed to have an Air b&b are those who have it as part of their home or on their own land.

Why is it wrong for companies to build for profit?

what people choose to do with their cash is up to them, ie if they have bought a house and choose not to live in it that is up to them. The same as those that choose not to pay bills and take drugs end up homeless. It is all about choice.

I agree what people choose to do with their money is up to them but I don’t agree all homeless are so because of life choices

Welshwife there is a semi two doors from me been empty since guy bought it 18 years ago. He lives elsewhere. Council empty homes officer has been informed they do nothing. This is in Knowsley Merseyside

Should those who own their own homes with two or three empty bedrooms be forced to rent these rooms ?

Give the homeless access to our holiday homes and caravans as well.

And to the gyms and pools to which we are fully-paid up members.

I think not. My second home has not been used for the last couple of years because of our ill health but we pay full council tax, which is actually considerably more than our regular home. Letting the property has never been an option, I have seen the neglect and damage caused by uncaring tenants.

One of my AC owns 3 homes plus one jointly owned with me. He works abroad at times and at various points around the UK, so that having properties in key locations makes sense. The family would be horrified to have them 'requistioned' or made the subject of a CPO. We have all enjoyed holidays in these homes.
If you can afford to buy and maintain more than one property then the government should have no say in the matter.

I was under the impression that any new housing development that was built over the last few years had to have 10 per cent of it for a mix of affordable or social housing, plus a community facility ie : GPs surgery : community centre : citizens advice bureau etc. before they can be granted planning permission. This is the case in the area I live. Also some councils do employ specific staff to try and find owners of properties that have been left empty for a long time, so that they may try to negotiate with the owner a repair and rent programme to ease the housing shortage.
In the cityI live in now ( not London) which was the subject of a TV documentary not many years ago, at least two thirds of people on the waiting list were told that it would be virtually impossible for them to be housed in social housing.
I worked in social housing for years before I retired and someone in my family does now, so I try and keep abreast with current ideas on housing and all aspects of it. I feel sorry for anyone now trying to get a property via social housing.

As our high st shops become empty and abandoned, there has been talk of turning them into housing. What a good idea. Our high streets are beginning to look very sad and while we are so desperate for homes, it seems a good idea.

My son on a recent visit to London was disgusted at the number of empty million pound flats owned by foreigners which were never occupied and his son has just had to pay £360,000 for a small one bedroom flat.

Why not utilise all the churches around the country. There is one service a month in our village the rest of the time the place is empty, why can’t they find space for a few homeless people. I understand about possible damage/theft but if they don’t want to do that what about utilising the vicarage. Our vicar and his wife live in a massive great place that must have at least eight bedrooms, while people sleep in shop doorways. I see nothing Christian in that and I’m a Christian.

The housing crisis is a national disgrace – we are the 5th wealthiest country in the world yet more than 1 million families are on council waiting lists. Many of these are effectively homeless or lack adequate housing. For example 1 in 5 children live in a cold, damp, house - compromising their immune systems and leading to ill health (Shelter).

Those living on the streets include ex-servicemen and women, people losing jobs, etc, and their average age at death is 43 compared with UK life expectancy of 80 plus years.

It is estimated that we need 4 million new homes to cope with the shortfall (Independent).

We have the resources to do something about this: councils have 33 thousand hectares of empty brownfield sites – sufficient for 1.4m homes; and the big 4 property developers have enough cash reserves to build those 1.4m homes. Nationally 400 thousand sites have planning permission for housing but no start has yet been, and almost a quarter of a million homes have been vacant for more than 6 months. Using these resources would halve the problem.

The present government promises 1 million new homes will be built by 2020. Their annual target of 300,000 to achieve this has never been met. The last year that 300,000 new homes were built was 1969! Since then new builds completed have gradually fallen to below 200 thousand (BBC). Also the government target mentions "sustainable" new homes not "affordable ". Who is to say they will be affordable (even under the current description of affordable as 80% of market values).

There is an overwhelming need for a strategy to turn unused resources of land and capital into real, and really affordable, homes (of high quality – no more relaxation of standards). If the big building companies refuse to do this then they should be taken into public control and an action plan, to provide decent homes for all, implemented.