Issue - meetings

The Cabinet gave consideration to a report of the Principal Housing Market Intervention Officer that sought approval for the introduction of a robust empty homes intervention to bring empty properties across the borough back into use. Approval would pave the way for Oldham to secure full investment for a pilot initiative from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Homes England. This funding would underpin a holistic intervention package to support ongoing work with empty home owners. It was anticipated that Homes for England could be approached to fund a larger programme when the success of the pilot could be demonstrated.

The Cabinet noted that the current housing shortage across the country had placed an obligation on Local Authorities to find innovative solutions to the current problem. Bringing empty homes back into use was one initiative as part of a wider strategy. The Council was looking to use two ways forward, purchase and repair (P&R) or lease and repair (L&R), and would procure partners to deliver the projects and manage the lettings.

The housing market in Oldham had come under pressure from growing demand and high levels of transience in central areas of the town. With growing demand for affordable housing and community challenges, an empty homes initiative could help deliver an innovative housing solution. The proposed solution formed a wider intervention package to deliver a wide range of benefits across the service and support the key priorities and ambitions of Oldham Council.

Options/Alternatives considered

Option 1 – Approve all of the recommendations and support a pilot

intervention project.

Option 2 – Do not approve both interventions instead, only approve a P&R

option and delay the development of an Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO) Policy

Option 3 – Do not approve both interventions instead, only approve a L&R

option and delay the development of an EDMO Policy

Option 4 – Do nothing

RESOLVED that the Cabinet would consider the commercially sensitive information contained at Item 14 of the agenda.