Empty Homes Newsletter from Plymouth City Council

Plymouth City Council sent this bulletin at 04-06-2013 08:33 PM BST

Welcome to the latest edition of the Empty Homes Newsletter. If you have any news or stories you think may be of interest to the team, please get in touch by emailing EmptyHomes@plymouth.gov.uk

101 Landlords!

101 landlords have now signed up to EasyLet and HouseLet in Plymouth.

Plymouth City Council is celebrating the milestone for its rental schemes that have gone from strength to strength. 64 landlords have now signed up to EasyLet scheme and 37 to HouseLet.

EasyLet was launched in 2010 to give families in housing need access to quality private rented accommodation. Landlords benefit from a fast tenant finder service, competitive market rents linked to the local housing allowance and a full property and tenancy management service.

HouseLet was launched in 2005 and gives landlords a complete property and tenancy management service with a guaranteed rental income while their property is leased to the Council.

Any landlords interested in letting one, two, three or four bedroom properties in partnership with Plymouth City Council can contact the Accommodation Team today on 01752 398592.

What’s the Future – Living and Housing event, 12 June

A pop up shop called ‘What’s the Future?’ opens in 71 new George Street from 8 to 29 June. There will be a range of opportunities to discuss and debate the future of the city to inform the Plymouth Plan. The Council will be joined by other organisations and groups who are involved in supporting, developing and changing the city. Each open day has a different focus; themes include Living and Housing, Prosperity and Affordability and Greener Plymouth.

The Living and Housing event will be taking place on 12th June and Plymouth City Council’s Housing Delivery Team, Private Rented Team and Accommodation Team among others, will all be available to talk to landlords, homeowners and tenants about all things housing!

For the latest programme go to www.plymouth.gov.uk/plymouthplan, follow @plymouthplan on Twitter and Like What’s the Future Shop on Facebook

Empty properties decreasing!

The success of the Housing Delivery Team’s empty property services available to empty home owners is evident. Over the last ten years the total number of long term empty properties has been reduced from 2,538 in April 2003 to 684 in April 2013!

The team offers landlords a number of solutions to bring their properties back in to use including large discounts on auction fees, a bespoke empty property sale service, a lease and repair scheme run by Westcountry Housing, interest free property renovation loans and even a guaranteed rental income with its HouseLet scheme. For more information, contact the Housing Delivery Team on 01752 307578.

In the press

You may have seen our article featured in the Plymouth Property Paper this month about Plymouth City Council’s HouseLet scheme and the benefits it provides for landlords as well as families in need of help. If you missed it, here’s your chance to catch up!

Plymouth City Council Offers Landlords Guaranteed Rent

The cost of leaving a property empty is staggering! With the 50 per cent increase in council tax for empty properties, which came into effect last month, property dilapidation costs and lost rental income it makes sense to rent it out. Nevertheless, we understand that renting a property can be both daunting and a hassle and that is where Plymouth City Council can help.

The Council’s HouseLet leasing scheme helps owners bring their property back into use by offering a trouble free solution to letting their property. The Council pays its HouseLet landlords a guaranteed rental income and works in partnership with Tamar Housing who provide a completely free property and tenancy management service. Once landlords sign up to HouseLet they can sit back and relax while the hard work is done for them.

In addition, each year some interest free loans are available to HouseLet landlords to assist in bringing their empty properties up to the Decent Homes Standard.

In the press...

Click on the poster image to see our latest Empty Homes advertising campaign!

Need a hand...

The Housing Delivery Team is able to help empty home owners by offering interest free loans of up to £10,000 to assist in the renovation of their properties.

To find out more call us on 01752 307578.

Looking to let...

Our HouseLet scheme offers landlords a guaranteed rent, even during void periods.

For more information, call the Housing Delivery Team on 01752 307570 or visit our website.

Looking to lease...

With our Lease and Repair Scheme, we can arrange for Westcountry Housing to lease your property for the next ten years. Westcountry will renovate it and pay you a guaranteed rental income during the lease period.

For more information call the Housing Delivery Team on 01752 307578.

Trouble finding tenants...

Our EasyLet scheme matches tenants to private landlords and provides a complete property and tenancy management service.

To find out more call the Housing Delivery Team on 01752 307570 or read our e-book.

Developers in Devon...

Register your interest and add your name to our developers list. We will keep you up to date with all the latest development opportunities and property sale open day viewings.

Empty Property Sales Service

The Housing Delivery Team’s empty property sale procedure is going from strength to strength and proving popular with both owners and developers. So far this month alone two properties have been sold subject to contract.

If you want to, or know of someone who would like to receive information about empty homes opportunities contact the Housing Delivery Team on 01752 307577 or download a copy of the Empty Property Sales Procedure.

In 2012 it was estimated that over 220 families in Plymouth, many with young children, were made homeless through no fault of their own. Whilst the Council has a statutory duty to rehouse these families, it can often be a long process, sometimes taking in excess of 12 months. Before the scheme was launched in 2003, families in these circumstances were often required to stay in B&Bs. In addition to being extremely costly to the council, many of these B&Bs do not allow guests to stay in their rooms during the day, forcing families to wander the streets, even in extreme weather! Perhaps the worst effected, are the children of these families, who often have nowhere safe to play or a quiet space to do their homework.

HouseLet properties provide families with warm, comfortable and quality accommodation. It allows children to grow up in a safe and secure environment, in a fixed location and a place to call home when they need it most. If you have a two or three bedroom house or flat that is either empty or about to become empty, call the HouseLet team on 01752 307570.

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