In Trafford there are currently approximately 1,188 homes that have been vacant for more than six months. Nationally, housing waiting lists have reached all time high. Official projections estimate some 3.8 million new households will require accommodation by 2016. Whilst such figures illustrate the scale of the problem, they do not convey the impact in human terms when families are living in unsuitable and overcrowded conditions.

Empty homes contribute significant harm to local communities by:

• Depressing the market affecting the sustainability of the neighbourhood making it undesirable to live in
• Reducing the value of neighbouring properties by approximately 10%
• Encouraging anti-social behaviour such as criminal damage, vandalism, arson and squatting. It may even become a base for drug dealing

Early intervention will result in minimal cost to the owner, but once a property suffers significant damage the cost can be overwhelming. If squatters move into the property the legal fees involved in recovering possession can run into thousands of pounds.

We can potentially help owners to bring an empty property back into housing use by working in partnership with social enterprise schemes and local housing associations (HAs). Flexible options include:

• Having the dwelling renovated, let and managed by professional HAs on your behalf for as long as it takes to recover any costs incurred. (You retain ownership of the building at all times)
• Introduction to partners who may be able to provide contractors who will carry out work instructed and paid for by you, potentially at discounted rates
• We may be able to provide some grant assistance towards the refurbishment (limited availability)
• You could sell the property on the open market or to one of our partner organisations

Owners leaving a home empty may be at risk of losing the property due to the Council invoking legal powers such as making a Compulsory Purchase Order; Empty Dwelling Management Order or enforcing the sale of the property.

You can report an empty home:

• Online
• By sending an email to: housing.standards@trafford.gov.uk
• By calling: 0161 912 4025
• By writing to: Housing Standards, Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Road, Stretford, M32 0YJ