, Flintshire Council paid approximately 2.3m to bring its vacant social houses back to an appropriate standard for new tenants in the last 12 months. the use of cookies. Council bosses are being asked whether hard-to-let sheltered housing should be adapted to be made more suitable, or offered for use by tenants of any age. 10. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. We use cookies on your computer or mobile device to help make this website better. 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The service refurbishes an average 550 empty properties annually, with works varying from minor to major general maintenance and repair works. Buying an empty home. E Deeside.com Est. Flintshire has approximately 500 long term empty properties; the Empty Property Grant is a loan to help owners bring empty properties back in to use. We use cookies to improve your experience. Most people look after their properties but there's an element of those that don't and these are the ones that will cost us thousands of pounds. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please The project is funded by the Scottish Government and housed by Shelter Scotland. There are approximately 500 long term empty properties in the County. K This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. At a housing subcommittee meeting, Cllr Eric Owen said: If we could be taking rents of 50 a week it would work out at a loss of 500,000 for the year so far.. budget, as well as approving a transfer of 200,000 from a contingency reserve to replenish the authority's Winter Maintenance Reserve. Your council will then prioritise applications based on who needs a home most urgently. , The repairs and maintenance team also utilise these contractors when works are either too large or complex to manage. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. 2023 BBC. , By Liam Randall Local Democracy Reporter. G The council said if plans were approved it could settle debts to the council, such as council tax arrears, by putting vacant or run-down properties up for auction. , It comes after neighbouring Wrexham Council admitted earlier this month that the external contractors it uses are struggling to keep up with the rate of repairs needed. Nearest school 0.6mi. Flexible, The Planner Magazine is 2023Redactive Publishing Limited. Interested applicants should complete an Expression of Interest Form, please see attached. Flintshire Council paid approximately 2.3m to bring its vacant social houses back to an appropriate standard for new tenants in the last 12 months . It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's "Although it has been possible to contain some of the expected pressure through prepaid accommodation to the end of September 2022, which has been funded by the COVID-19 Hardship Fund, the expected continued high demand for temporary accommodation including short term Bed & Breakfast provision will continue to present significant challenges. The reasons include distance from shops, and upstairs flats unsuitable for less mobile elderly tenants. P Nearest station 2.3mi. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Minimum loan of 500. But, the pandemic, Brexit and the war in Ukraine have created a number of challenges for the council's Housing Service over the past two years in particular. As well as that, the longer a property is empty the less valuable it becomes. Max: 35,000 per unit of accommodation (150,000 per applicant maximum). She said although the authority has around 3,000 on its housing waiting list, the properties could not be released to families or single youngsters because of their proximity to elderly people. Properties, including houses on the Holway estate, Holywell, and bedsits in sheltered housing complex Glan y Morfa Court, Connahs Quay, have been identified by the council as practically impossible to let. A review of sheltered housing in Flintshire is set to be carried out because of an 'excessive' amount of empty properties. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. The target timescales for the refurbishment of a property classified as a minor void is 20 working days and that figure is45 working days for a major void. Some flats become unsuitable as tenants grow older, the report said. VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line. Flintshire claims it is one of the first authorities in Wales to have a person working solely on turning around empty homes using money specifically set aside to renovate dilapidated properties. Conwy had 1,155 chargeable second homes but only 1,181, last year, whilst Denbighshire had 397 and 393. This is designed to cover works which bring the property up to the Decent Homes Standard. The latest analysis of properties shows a total of 772 properties are currently subject to the 50% premium charge, consisting of 605 long term empty properties and 167 second homes. , The total value for the framework period is an estimated 11,500,000. Applicant must have sufficient equity within their property to cover the loan amount/or offer a different property with sufficient equity for security, Applicants property must be long term vacant (over 6 months), Property must be tenanted until the loan is released or sold, On completion of the works, the property must be habitable and of a lettable standard (no, Property must be covered by buildings insurance until the loan is repaid, Maximum loan of 25,000 subject to eligibility testing and loan assessment, The Council holds a share of the property value, to the cost of the works, Loan is repaid on sale or transfer (maximum loan term is 2 years for sale and 3 years for rent), Voluntary early repayment may be made at any time. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. FLINTSHIRE has more than 200 empty council properties even though theres a waiting list of 4,000 people desperate for homes. But, the re-tendering exercise will 'increase resilience', whilst ensuring newly procured contractors are held accountable to performance targets. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Property must be covered by buildings insurance until the loan is repaid. MORE than a dozen council properties have stood empty for years - costing Flintshire thousands of pounds in lost rental income. For more information, please follow this link. MORE than a dozen council properties have stood empty for years - costing Flintshire thousands of pounds in lost rental income. Applicant is invited to apply by the Council, For use within the Councils strategic Renewal Area, A proportion of the grant must be repaid if the property is sold or transferred within 5 years. For owners of vacant properties to bring up to lettable standard, in eligible areas, to be occupied by Council nominated tenants for 5 years. There are currently around 1300 such properties in Flintshire and the Council has published a strategy to encourage owners of empty property to bring them back into use. Deeside.com Est. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. Something went wrong, please try again later. Please note that the loan is discretionary and an offer of a loan cannot be guaranteed until the applicant has received formal notice of approval. ", The current site of the Cardiff bus station is to become the new home for BBC Cymru Wales. The portfolio of empty houses includes 27 in Jasmine Crescent, Mold, which are being demolished to make way for a housing complex for the elderly. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Analysis showed "a series of issues where some of the schemes appear unpopular", resulting in a high turnover and properties left empty. the use of cookies. I know of four people who have tried to rent it and two people who tried to buy it. contact the editor here. Flintshire Council's Cabinet will meet on Tuesday to discuss a revenue budget monitoring report for 2022/23. This is in the form of an interest free loan to cover works which bring the property up to the Decent Homes Standard. Council set to pull out of managed lettings, Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Air strikes pound Sudan capital as truce extended. Read 327,693 times in last 30 days The reasons include distance from shops, and upstairs flats unsuitable for less mobile elderly tenants. That then creates an opportunity for the council to review, modernise and re-occupy these properties. At a. Empty Homes. contact the editor here. A Gannett Company. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Sheltered housing in remote areas suffered from limited access to shops, especially with the closure of local convenience stores, the report said, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. OnTheMarket > 14 days Marketed by Matthews of Chester - Chester. 2014. A new council scheme could see owners of dilapidated or empty buildings in Flintshire being forced to sell. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. It also had 340 long term chargeable empty homes, down on last year's figure of 433. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. Editors' Code of Practice. Flintshire Council set to reduce pesticide use to support wildlife, Bid to tackle challenges surrounding empty council houses in Flintshire, Frightened and desperate families speak out over housing rental shortage. We are looking for a motivated planner to join our team to help us make a positive difference to Waless environment B Flintshire Council's Cabinet will meet on Tuesday to discuss a revenue budget monitoring report for 2022/23. , The council experiences 400-500 void properties per year and, overall, the cost of bringing these back into a lettable standard equates to approximately 2,300,000 per year. Loans can be provided for the purpose of improving a residential property to/for: Up to 5 years for landlord loan, 7 years for owner occupiers, HILs can be drawndown by loan recipients in advance, in stages or on completion of the improvement works. An example would be, works to remedy serious disrepair, provide modern kitchen and bathroom facilities, improve heating systems and insulation, and to remove any serious hazards which could affect the well-being of the occupier, such as dampness, dangerous stairs or electrical wiring. He said: , The voids team utilise contractors for works to empty properties that is unable to be resourced or delivered via the direct work force. Y You can apply for a home through your local council. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. S A review by Flintshire County Council showed some schemes were not popular. Cllr Attridge said: The people being let down are the people we represent, the tenants.. All monies will be paid to you on provision of a Contractor(s) invoice on completion of the works. Challenges faced by the council included the availability of skilled resources, raw materials and linked price increases, all of which impacts negatively on void delivery and turnaround times. The authority is now planning a more flexible role for its wardens so that they can better respond to the needs of the elderly people they care for. If you send any further correspondence about this request, please include the reference number and either e.mail it to [Flintshire County Council request email], or post it to Freedom of Information, Flintshire County Council, Information Governance, County . Flintshire Council headquarters at County Hall, Mold. Empty flats could also be used to cut council spending on delayed transfer from care or hospital for people not yet ready to return to their own homes. Sign up to our free newsletter for the top North Wales stories sent straight to your e-mail. READ MORE:Flintshire Council set to reduce pesticide use to support wildlife. The Council's Empty Homes Strategy involves working with other appropriate agencies and demonstrates the Council's commitment to improve this problem. Max: 25,000 per unit of accommodation (150,000 per applicant maximum). Flintshire County Council's Social Services department Housing Apply for a Council house and find other advice relating to Flintshire County Council's Housing services Jobs and. The fund, made available to Councils in Wales, enables the Council to provide short to medium term loans to owners of sub-standard properties who pass affordability criteria and who are restricted by other sources of finance. Upstairs flats also became unsuitable for elderly tenants over time as they became less mobile, it added. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. The proposal aims to tackle the 469 homes currently empty in the Welsh county. London Borough of Lambeth: , Get notified about news from across North Wales, Long delays on A55 in Flintshire following a collision, Ewloe glamping pods plan refused due concerns over impact on open countryside, 24 hour support and advice helpline now available to individuals with autism and neurodivergence, Hospice appeal for volunteers at the ESSAR Chester Half Marathon, Youngsters commend north Wales health board for its commitment to improving patient experience, Cost of Living Crisis: Home appliance costs surge for UK families, Transport watchdog demands urgent action from Transport for Wales to improve rail service reliability, NEWSAR: Phone Find technology helps locate person in need of help in Deeside countryside. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. The only way the property owner could prevent a sale would be to repay the debt, but the council said the policy would only be used as a last resort after all other avenues had failed. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. In Flintshire, council tax records indicate 888 properties have been empty on a long-term basis or are second homes which could be potentially liable for the premium. The number of empty council houses in Wrexham has risen amid efforts to carry out more extensive repairs, a new report has shown. *Stats independent & directly measured by Google, via the Analytics Live API. Q He said: Many old and vulnerable adults rely on the support and friendship from resident wardens.. This strategy is available at the bottom of this . Editors' Code of Practice. 2023 BBC. V This grant is to help owners bring empty properties back in to use within the Councils strategic Renewal Area. Miss Harkin said: We need to radically improve where we are now.. Ms Harkin revealed the 19 empty properties in Glan y Morfa Court were not being offered to potential tenants because bedsits were no longer popular. These applicants are not subject to the conditions relating to the management of the property by a social lettings agency, FCC retaining tenancy rights and the requirement to become an accredited landlord. F We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. J The previous contract arrangement meant the council only had access to one contractor. A 100 million fund has been announced by Kris Hopkins, housing minister, which would enable council tenants to exert more control over their homes. Furthermore, the report also urges councillors to reduce the age of eligibility for sheltered housing from 60 to 55, in line with local housing associations. The Voids Action Plan was discussed during theCommunity andHousing Overview andScrutiny Committee meeting held on Wednesday, March 8. We serve those towns and villages in Flintshire which lie close to River Dee in North East Wales and the border with neighbouring Chester in England. A Dear Flintshire County Council, I am a local property developer (Hawarden based) using local tradesmen to renovate property in the area. When an empty property is being sold after the death of the owner the property is exempt of Council Tax for 6 months after the granting of probate. Mr Williams said: Just think about the rent they have lost. U But the new proposal has already come under fire from Labour opposition on Flintshire, who have pledged to fight it. By viewing our content you are accepting Figures released by Wrexham Council . On top of the loss, the council is spending 3,500 on bringing each property up to standard. O The report projects how the authority's budget would stand at the close of the financial year, without new actions to reduce cost pressures and/or improve the financial return on efficiency planning and cost control. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. 01244 725688. Council bosses are being asked whether hard-to-let sheltered housing should be adapted to be made more suitable, or offered for use by tenants of any age. This is in the form of an interest free loan to cover works which bring the property up to the Decent Homes Standard. Empty properties. landlords, owner occupiers who pass affordability checks. Among the warden bungalows which have remained empty is a three bedroom bungalow at Lixwm near Holywell, which has been empty for at least six years. Coun Aaron Shotton, Labour Leader, said: To remove resident wardens and replace them with mobile wardens is a retrograde step that will leave many of our elderly feeling very vulnerable. Is climate change killing Australian wine? R The report states: "Although, there is continued support via the new Homelessness No One Left Out grant, with a further allocation of 0.256m being confirmed recently, this still falls well below the amount of support the council received via the Hardship Fund in 2020/21 and 2021/22. Please note you will be required to manage the project yourself, including seeking competitive quotes, arranging an asbestos survey, managing the work on site and ensuring that all the work is completed to your satisfaction and meets any legislative requirements in place.Please note that the loan is discretionary and an offer of a loan cannot be guaranteed until the applicant has received formal notice of approval. when crickets cry ending explained, glasgow, montana obituaries, did rockefeller found the american cancer society,
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empty council houses in flintshire