Northumberland County Council says that empty homes are a step closer to re-opening their doors to new tenants, after the council was given interim Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) for four properties across the county.
The council can now take over the management of the properties and get them back into use – the next step in the process is for the council to apply for a final EDMO, which would allow the council full control over future tenants, without having to consult with the property owner.
The homes included in these initial EDMOs are in Blyth and Ashington. The council says it is hoped that work to repair the homes will start in September, with the first tenants expected to move in later that month.
Using a £750,000 grant from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the council says it has been able for the first time to use its powers to initiate the EDMO process.
In total, it will be bringing 30 homes from across the county back into use.
The council will take over the management of 25 properties, using an EDMO – and will also purchase five properties, which will be refurbished. Once rented, they would be managed by the Homes for Northumberland team.
Northumberland County Council says that, where possible, the work will be done with the consent and agreement of the landlord or owner. However, if an agreement cannot be made, the council can take the property from the owner to secure its future.
Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing and Resilience, Councillor John Riddle, said:
“Empty properties can be a real blight on a community, affecting everything from local businesses to public services, such as schools and transport.
“These EDMOs are the next step in the council’s commitment to providing much needed family homes across the county.
“Thanks to funding from the HCA, we will now able to give these properties a new lease of life – and we look forward to welcoming new tenants soon.”
The council says it is continuing to identify further properties suitable for the scheme – and is asking anyone who lives near a property which has been empty for two or more years to report it to the council.
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