Braintree Council agrees new policy to tackle empty homes in district

The policy sets out the measures Braintree Council will take to bring empty properties back into use.

It will focus on privately owned homes which are long-term empty and have been empty for at least six months, are unoccupied and unfurnished, as well as second homes and furnished 'empties'. 

There are a total of 2,647 empty homes in the district, of which 1,016 have been empty for six months or longer.

The council says the aim is to begin tackling the long-term empty homes to bring them back into use and discourage owners from leaving them empty.

It comes after 80 per cent of respondents in a council consultation last year said it was important to reduce the number of empty properties in the district by exploring options to bring them back into use.

Braintree Council’s dedicated empty homes officer will provide advice and assistance to those wishing to bring empty homes back into use where possible.

Appropriate enforcement action to return empty properties to use will be considered. 

The council also charges 100 per cent council tax on properties from the day a property becomes empty to bring homes into use.

A proposal as part of the council’s budget also looks to change its 100 per cent empty property premium for certain empty properties from two years to one year starting from April 1, as well as introducing a 100 per cent premium on second homes, apart from some exemptions, from April, 2025.

Housing boss at Braintree Council Lynette Bowers-Flint said: “Every empty home removes a property from the housing market and with it the chance for those on housing register to be housed, first-time buyers to purchase or those looking to progress on the property ladder.

“We want to make sure we are using every tool we can to meet the housing needs of our residents and this policy will support us in our efforts to reduce the number of privately owned empty homes, increase housing supply and encourage inward investment into the district.”