Dramatic Reduction in Empty Council Properties in the Borough
Over £600,000 in extra rent brought in this year
Council's target is 60 'voids' across the borough. Picture: Hammersmith & Fulham Council'
November 18, 2024
Hammersmith & Fulham has reduced the number of empty properties in its housing service by more than 60 per cent in under two years. The borough has also cut the rent lost to empty homes, known as voids, by £636,142 since January 2024.
Cllr Frances Umeh, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, praised the team’s efforts to-date though added ‘there is still much work to be done’.
Council papers show how in February 2023 the local authority recorded 395 voids across its housing service. There are a number of reasons a property may be empty and unused, such as simple repairs needing to be completed or more complex works.
The council’s housing service has now reported it has 151 voids remaining, representing a drop of more than 60 per cent.
Of these, 91 are characterised as minor voids, 15 major, and 45 capital works. Council papers added the voids team receives five new properties a week to add to the existing works process, which it has to manage alongside resolving the existing homes.
The target for minor voids is to have 60 by January 2025, and to maintain that figure moving forward.
The paper, presented to the council’s Housing and Homelessness Policy and Accountability Committee meeting last Tuesday night (12 November), detailed how a voids action plan was developed and implemented in September 2023 as part of its bid to bring the number of empty homes down.
Officers wrote how the housing service has made ‘significant progress’ on cutting the number of voids. It has introduced a new tenant satisfaction survey, and joint inspections are carried out to reduce delays to works.
“Housing Repairs is working with sheltered residents in developing a new void standard for sheltered housing,” they added. “The focus is on additional work elements that includes enhanced items for people living with dementia e.g. “push taps, grab rails”. The rationale for this is to enable residents to live better in our communities.”
At the meeting, officers were queried on the quality of voids added to temporary accommodation stock and the number of properties not expected to return to use for more than 90 days.
John Hayden, Assistant Director of Repairs, told members properties used as temporary accommodation are provided by associations such as Peabody, and are not included in the council’s stock. He conceded that these can be returned in ‘variable states’, though that they do have to meet the Decent Homes Standard.
On the longer voids, Mr Hayden said some properties will take more time to bring back into use due to needing significant works and investment.
In response to a question from a resident, Mr Hayden also confirmed the voids being discussed are not to be transferred to the council’s recently-approved new housing company. Instead, they come under the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), and will remain under council control.
Cllr Frances Umeh, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said, “There is still more work to be done, and the team has been working incredibly hard to make sure we reduce the number of empty homes that we have and bring them back into the service while maintaining certain elements so that we can provide those for various reasons.”
Hammersmith and Fulham Council last week agreed to establish its own housing company. The approval was to set up the company only, with its specific functions to be articulated down the line accompanied by detailed business plans.
Officers wrote in an accompanying paper how the company would enable the local authority to acquire and manage housing and generate greater revenue streams . “This is an essential response to the need for increased housing supply, particularly in this borough where market conditions and affordability pressures are most acute.”
Ben Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter