6. Appendix action plan
1. priority
Monitor the number of long term empty properties from information on the Council Tax (CT) Register.
Target
Monitor and target up to date data on empty properties within East Devon quarterly.
Completion date
Quarterly
Outcome
To target actions.
Action
Obtain quarterly monitoring statistics from Council Tax (CT). Target long term empty properties.
2. priority
Availability and access to CT data for empty homes investigations and enforcement.
Target
To enable a conclusive, legal agreement to share data.
Completion date
October 2015
Outcome
To access effectively and efficiently data on specific long term empty homes from Council Tax data.
Action
To obtain an agreement regarding the availability and access to CT data.
3. priority
Living over the shops (LOTS) scheme.
Target
Identify 5 potential schemes.
Completion date
March 2019
Outcome
Provision of additional affordable accommodation and the use of empty space.
Action
Work with Planning within the market town areas of Exmouth, Honiton, Axminster, Sidmouth and Seaton to identify schemes where it could be possible to offer LOTS scheme loans.
4. priority
Review the partnership arrangement with Exeter Empty Homes Service in light of the work that is being carried out on Long Term Empty Property.
Target
To consider whether this is an appropriate use of resources.
Completion date
Annually
Outcome
Provision of an effective and efficient service.
Action
Annually report on the partnership arrangements and ensure this is value for money.
5. priority
Trace and contact owners of empty properties.
Provide advice and assistance to empty home owners to bring their properties back into use.
Target
30 properties target from CT data annually.
Completion date
Ongoing
Outcome
30 cases (over 12 months empty), showing work in progress or occupied.
Action
Contact all owners of empty properties over 12 months, from CT annual data.
6. priority
Enforcement.
- Project based
- Reactive
Target
Make use of all enforcement tools including: Compulsory Purchase, Housing Act 2004, Enforced Sale, Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, Statutory Nuisance, etc
Completion date
Ongoing
Outcome
Using enforcement as a tool to bring empty properties back into use, where owners are unwilling to carry out works or the property is causing a nuisance. This action will advertise to other owners of such properties that the council is prepared to take statutory action.
Action
Project based – complete the Enforced Sale of 5 long term empty properties in the same ownership.
Project based – assess the most appropriate actions for 2 (4) long term empty listed buildings, potentially these properties are candidates for Compulsory Purchase.
Reactive - complete 10 enforcement actions (PDPA, Statutory Nuisance, Housing act) reactive complaints.
7. priority
Loan Fund Assistance – for owners of empty properties including the Living over the Shops (LOTS) scheme.
Target
Provision of 5 loans.
Completion date
Ongoing
Outcome
To encourage and assist owners of non-decent empty properties to bring them back into use.
Action
Work with WRT to deliver 5 loans.