issue Five Spring 2009

Latest news from the EAST Kent Empty Property Initiative CAMPAIGN GOES KENT-WIDE All 12 districts now in fight against empty properties

No Use Empty; the Kent properties across the twelve board these new members and The No Use Empty team urge Empty Property Initiative has districts, depriving people of a a complete set of local the public to report properties now been rolled out Kent- much needed home. No Use authorities.” in their local community which wide to tackle the problem Empty has been widely praised “We have already proven that they believe to be long term of empty housing across the across the UK as a unique the initiative is an effective and vacant to the No Use Empty whole county. partnership between County efficient approach to tackling campaign hotline on Since welcoming Sevenoaks, and local councils, achieving empty housing in East Kent, 08458 247 605. For further Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge tangible results and setting an and with the support of our information on the No Use example for other councils in & Malling in Spring 2008, Kent new members I’m sure the Empty campaign, visit: the country to follow. County Council has teamed up initiative will make an equal www.no-use-empty.org with , The fully joined-up approach in impact across the county.” City Council, 2009 will work to bring as Steve Grimshaw, No Use Maidstone Borough Council, many of these properties back Empty project manager, said: Gravesham Borough Council into use as possible and “The Empty Property Officers in this and hopefully make this our best across the region were already to embrace all of Kent. year to date by having access engaged with the initiative issue The initiative was first launched to a wider group of resources, following a programme of almost three years ago and skills and experiences. training sessions we organise following its enormous Kevin Lynes, Cabinet Member on a regular basis. Our new brings back local eyesore success, has helped bring for Regeneration at Kent members have seen the impact back into use nearly 600 empty properties County Council, said: “It was No Use Empty has made in New faces at No Use back into use. always our intention to roll out East Kent, and it’s terrific news Empty There are currently around the initiative across Kent and that they have now officially Interest-free loans for 15,000 long term empty I’m delighted to welcome on joined the partnership.” empty property owners HAPPY BIRTHDAY NO USE EMPTY

As the campaign approaches 600 Empty Properties Enforced sale procedures No Use Empty would like to its 3rd anniversary, it’s time to say a big thank you to all brought back into use Compulsory purchase celebrate some of the terrific those who have continued to 459 Empty property officers orders achievements in helping return support our campaign, from local authorities across empty properties back into use: Tracing people including members of the the UK have attended Part L building regulations public who have contacted us £1.1 million interest-free training sessions run under with empty properties their loans to home-owners of No Use Empty, including: 12 districts across Kent now empty properties, of which working in partnership with area. Empty Dwelling £400,000 are Buy to Sell KCC Management Orders and £700,000 Buy to Let. AN EMPTY EYESORE NO MORE NO USE EMPTY IN ACTION!

One of Thanet’s most well known eyesores, a property that OVER 1 MILLION INTEREST-FREE LOANS had been in disrepair for over 20 years, has been brought into use as affordable housing following extensive restoration. TO HOME OWNERS The property at 77 Eastern Country Housing Group, one Esplanade has been a target of the council’s preferred The campaign is delighted to have approved over £1 million of of the No Use Empty affordable housing partners, interest-free loans to home owners across the County in order campaign after its serious has been working to bring to help them renovate almost 100 empty properties in two structural defects became a the property back into use. districts (Dover and Thanet) alone major problem for Thanet When work started the Home owners are facing to bringing empty homes back District Council. Protective property was boarded up, testing times when it comes to into use, so the loan scheme is scaffolding had to be erected with windows missing and funding costly but restoration a very tangible solution to around the property to major infestation by pigeons works for their properties when unlock the problem” says protect the public from falling in the upper floors. Due to the current economic climate Steve Grimshaw, No Use masonry and two dangerous missing slates from the roof, makes it very difficult to borrow Empty project manager. chimney stacks that were water had been pouring money from financial leaning precariously had to through the property for a The loan scheme is intended for institutions. be demolished. number of years, causing any owner of an empty A No Use Empty Loan helps to convert this property in Dover into However, No Use Empty is on property, or someone who is Following the decease of the serious decay, including dry 21 apartments and 17 new builds. hand to help and Kent County considering buying an empty owner, the property was and wet rot. Council has committed a £5 property (if the property has considered for applications to £1.1 million to date that has passed on to various family Thankfully, the four one and million capital fund to provide been empty for 6 months or convert commercial properties been awarded to home-owners members throughout Saudi two bedroom flats have now financial support to owners of more) anywhere in Kent. They into residential accommodation. has greatly assisted people in Arabia. Difficulty in tracing been refurbished and were empty properties, to help them can apply for an interest-free Steve continued: “The giving a new lease of life to so the beneficiaries was a major offered for sale on a shared- they can afford to and rent is pay a rent of 2.7% on the pay for necessary renovations. loan of up to £25,000 per unit enormous success of the loan many empty homes, and hope setback, and the council was ownership basis, allowing for paid on the share of the remaining portion. All flats to a maximum of £175,000, scheme so far highlights just that many more can benefit in left to foot the bill for the those on a low income to get “The cost of renovation works property they do not own. have since been sold and the which is made as an up front how critical the issue of empty the future now that the project work carried out. on to the property ladder by is one of the biggest obstacles has been rolled-out Kent-wide.” The flats range in price from first became occupied in payment. Loans will also be housing is in the County. The A sale was then enforced on owning part of the equity of £100,000 to £140,000. January 2009. All thanks to the property in April 2007 the property. Shared-owners Purchasers were able to buy the No Use Empty Initiative. and since then, Town & are able to acquire additional equity at a later stage when as little as a 25% share and NO USE EMPTY IT COULD BE YOU SMASHES EMPTY CASE STUDY OF A LOAN HOMES TARGETS at STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOp The scheme has on our local communities, SCHEME PROPERTY + + + comfortably exceeded its preventing investment and delivery targets to make a regeneration, devaluing Max Dale, the owner of an carry out major renovation significant contribution to surrounding properties, empty property, 24 High Street, works on his property which the regeneration of local attracting anti-social behaviour Margate, has used the loan to will provide 4 new homes. The communities. and depriving people of a units had previously been THE NEW FACES AT NO USE EMPTY much needed home. Kent has New figures have revealed vacant for several years. The that in the last three years, tackled this issue head-on, work is expected to be Steve Grimshaw also joins the nothing quite like this running No Use Empty has delivered delivering outstanding results completed this month at which team replacing Susan Pledger. elsewhere in the UK, almost 600 properties back which prove that this initiative point the units will be placed on particularly in terms of this Steve brings a wealth of into the community as new, is an effective and efficient the market for rent, bringing distinctive and most effective experience in project good quality homes. approach to tackling empty them back into use. The total management to the team. He partnership, so I hope to drive housing. project cost was £360,000 of the project forward to continue The initial three-year target will be responsible for working Steve Grimshaw, No Use which £100,000 was provided to pioneer this issue as we now for the campaign was 372, closely with all the District Empty Project Manager said: through the No Use Empty have a real responsibility in and this figure has been Council’s empty property “No Use Empty has more initiative. leading the way. More than surpassed by more than officers to co-ordinate the than lived up to its early ever, with such a large team on 30%, with a total of 487 Max said: “The loan we have campaign and deliver its promise. Not only have the board from all over the county, vacant properties given a received from No Use Empty objectives to help bring empty councils performed well, but we’re all looking forward to new lease of life and turned has made the difference houses back into use, along the initiative has had a expanding upon the excellent into a home. No Use Empty is between the house falling into with the Project Consultant, catalytic effect in encouraging work of the empty homes now well on course to further disrepair and turning the Andrew Lavender. others to report more empty Kevin Lynes Steve Grimshaw officers across all the districts. achieving the 2010 target of property into a new home. Steve is delighted with his new 650 properties, especially homes for the campaign to With No Use Empty’s support I believe that particularly in The campaign is delighted to Gough. Kevin was elected to role. He said: “The No Use with all 12 districts on board bring back into use. We think we have been able to rescue these current challenging times, report that we welcome a new in 2001 Empty campaign is a really and the level of interest from that Kent has created a this house and we would we realise what a waste empty cabinet member for and is the county councillor for unique initiative which has potential applicants continues fantastic model here that encourage other owners of homes are on valuable housing Regeneration and Economic Tunbridge Wells East. made a real difference to to grow. other parts of the country empty properties to make the Development, Councillor Kevin bringing empty properties back resource.” could and should follow." Kent County Council Empty houses are a scourge most of this scheme and apply Lynes, who replaces Roger Regeneration Project Manager, into use across Kent. There is for a loan.” MEET THE TEAM

Lisa Webb Housing Standards Officer, Sevenoaks District Council

have been working on empty resolve the problem. Every help. There are lots of different homes for five years and every case is unique and often methods and many of these day brings a new challenge. involves working with other people wouldn’t necessarily My first port of call is to Council service areas such as have thought of. There’s the respond to the many reports Building Control and Legal, as No Use Empty loan scheme or made by local residents about well as external agencies such a Council grant, where we can empty properties in their area. as the Police and Kent Fire often offer interest-free loans Each newsletter we feature They might be concerned and Rescue. It all takes time or a grant in order to help fund a member of the No Use about empty properties that but it’s worth it in the end as the essential works needed to Empty team. Lisa Webb is a are in a run-down condition or you know the property will bring the home back into use. Housing Standards Officer at a property that is not secure provide a lovely home for We also provide guidance on Sevenoaks District Council. and is being vandalised. someone once it’s had a bit of renting out a property, the Located in West Kent within care and attention. requirements of Planning and the Metropolitan Green Belt, Often I go out to inspect the Building Regulations, the Sevenoaks has a population condition of empty properties Patience is definitely a skill auction process, VAT of 109,305 with 47,500 in order to best work out what you need in this job, especially incentives and helping to find dwellings across the three can be done to bring them as tracing the owner can often a reliable building contractor. main towns of Sevenoaks, back into use. I am currently be an enormous challenge: My favourite part of the job is Swanley and Edenbridge, as investigating a long term people sometimes move being able to meet the owner well as New Ash Green and empty home in the Swanley abroad and inherit properties in person to discuss each Hartley with over 30 rural area that has been the target they don’t even know about. individual situation and talk settlements. of several arson attacks. This Fortunately there are a series property is in substantial of methods we can use and about the help we can offer. As Housing Standards Officer disrepair, putting the adjoining once the owner has been After all, they’re often sitting within the Private Sector home at risk and we are trying identified, I write to them and on an excellent but wasted Housing team in Sevenoaks, I to work with the owner to explain how the Council can source of income. Contact File

Steve Grimshaw, Project Manager, Kathy Alcock, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council 01622 221 906 [email protected] 01892 554 275 [email protected] Andrew Lavender, Project Consultant, Lucy Hicks, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council 08458 247 605 [email protected] 01732 876 130 [email protected] Mike Thompson, Thanet District Council, Andrew Chambers, Dartford Borough Council 01843 577 408 [email protected] 01322 343 670 [email protected] John Day, , Vic Gouldstone, Ashford Borough Council, 01304 872 302 [email protected] 01233 330 582 [email protected] Iain Cobby, Shepway District Council, Julian Watts, Maidstone Borough Council, 01303 853 349 [email protected] 01622 602 105 [email protected] Brian George, , Mike Wade, Gravesham Borough Council, 01795 417 232 [email protected] 01474 337 604 [email protected] Lisa Webb, Sevenoaks District Council Mary Hartop, Canterbury City Council, 01732 227 231 [email protected] 01227 862 236 [email protected]

No Use Empty Hotline 08458 247 605 www.no-use-empty.org