Forum Topic

Empty Housing Trust Homes

With the supposed shortage of housing in London and elsewhere it is surprising that a Housing Trust has left 1 substantial property empty and boarded up now for well over a year.I can not understand why they removed and rehoused an existing tenant about 18 months back but so far have done absolutely nothing to their property. They have not even removed all the newspapers and junk mail from the entrance.I have today written to the Housing Trust in question and will be interested to hear their response.What do others think about this?

Jean F Fernandez ● 3856d16 Comments

How about contacting your local councillors or your local MP?

Philippa Bond ● 3815d

Rubbish still piled up against the front of this empty property although I contacted Notting Hill Housing Trust and was advised this would be removed.It seems they are quite content to let this property remain empty and the longer it is neglected they will need to spend more money to bring it up to current standard. Ridiculous!The previous occupant at least kept the hedge trimmed and the front garden was tidy.

Jean F Fernandez ● 3815d

It obviously needs to be made easier to do short term lets of some kind so that houses don't remain empty and boarded up for 10 years.  What is the situation re Council Tax?  I understand that no-one is living there and using it but surely that also has to be a way of encouraging use. I thought that Council Tax charging had changed regarding empty properties - or are HAs getting some special deal.  If so - why?

Philippa Bond ● 3818d

I know that an individual was interested and made an offer for the empty property in question but this refused as 'that property was part of their housing stock' Now that's all very well but it has been sitting empty now for far too long.Perhaps they should allow people to move into some empty homes as long as they agree to do work on them. Surely that would be better than nothing?

Jean F Fernandez ● 3822d

Going back a few years (It may be very different now),i asked the same question re ha empty property and I was told its due to ha's not being allowed to show to much of a profit on their yearly accounts.So the empty property was used as a cash bank to sell when they need funds for whatever.Also a lot  property was in need of total renovation and cost exceeds future resale value,remember ha's are private companies Recently the right to buy ha property has been discussed which has its good aspects and negative aspects,maybe ha's are waiting to see the fine detail re selling their tenanted stock.Although ha's are private companies someone may want to make a FOI request.  The whatdotheyknow.com site is where to ask.

Harry Jay ● 3823d

Such a shame as there's a housing shortage. I wonder if they pay Council Tax?

Gerry Tan ● 3823d

Really it is high time these Housing Associations were brought to account for leaving huge vacant properties. How can this be allowed at a time when there us an urgent need for affordable housing?Why are they sitting on empty properties?

Jean F Fernandez ● 3823d

I have a friend who lives in Shakespeare Road, Hanwell and there are 3 adjacent pairs of large semi-detached houses that have been vacant and boarded up for well over 10 years!! They are owned by 2 Housing Associations! I really don't see how this helps London's housing problems. Enquiries of the Council to find out what it has been doing about this situation with the various empty property powers available to it have apparently proved fruitless.

David Mercer ● 3823d

Well that's not the first one of their homes which has caused comment because of sitting empty for so long.  There was one in Brentford.They are registered with the Charity Commission.

Philippa Bond ● 3824d

Notting Hill Housing Trust

Jean F Fernandez ● 3826d

Is this Housing Trust a charity?

Philippa Bond ● 3826d

This is an update on the situation regarding the empty property belonging to a Housing Association, I was given to undeestand that they were awaiting planning permission from Ealing Council. On checking this out I now find that planning permission was actually granted back in the early part of this year!They don't appear to be in a hurry to provided much needed housing and seem quite happy to let this empty property remain an eyesore with old newspapers and so on piled up against the entrance. I have been advised that they will tidy the entrance.

Jean F Fernandez ● 3826d

Philippa, I just had an email from the Housing Trust, apparently they are waiting for planning permission from Ealing Council to modernise the property and turn it into much needed accommodation.Well I am not happy with that reply because the place has been left empty for about a year and a half, it seems strange that planning permission has not been granted yet.It seems like they are content to let this substantial property remain uninhabited for some time to come. So  much for them saying they do understand the urgent need to house people.Ealing Council has been very liberal with approving renovations and massive extensions in recent years, in fact 3 doors away from this empty property the Council gave permission to transform a 3 bed terrace house into a development which now been converted into 3 flats!

Jean F Fernandez ● 3852d

Exactly.Hopefully you will have made sure that this property doesn't drop off anyone's agenda!

Philippa Bond ● 3852d

Philippa, I would like to advertise the address but it might well attract the wrong sort of tenants!I had a reply from the housing trust, my email will be passed on to the manager in charge of that property.

Jean F Fernandez ● 3855d

Not very good is it?  Perhaps we should be asking them why?  If we were to mention the address no doubt it would not stay empty for long...

Philippa Bond ● 3855d