Research reveals which borough is best at tackling empty homes

 Wandsworth Council is the best in London at reviving empty homes.

Wandsworth is better than any other London borough at getting its empty homes filled – and can count itself amongst the best in the country.

A new study has shown there is a lower proportion of empty homes in Wandsworth than anywhere else in the capital.

Research carried out by the Insurance company Admiral, based on Government figures and FoI responses from more than 350 local authorities, has revealed Wandsworth’s empty homes ratio is not only the absolute lowest in London but also among the very lowest in the country.

Wandsworth has only 1.2 empty homes per thousand.

This compares to 6.6 in neighbouring Lambeth, 7.3 in Merton, 3.2 in Hammersmith and Fulham, 2.4 in Westminster, 4.4 in Kingston and 5.7 in Richmond.

In other parts of the capital, Southwark’s ratio is 13.3, Kensington and Chelsea’s is 12.7, Croydon’s is 9.5, Camden’s stands at 11.6 and Sutton’s ratio is 8.3 per thousand.

The English local authority average is nine per thousand – giving an overall tally across England, Scotland and Wales of more than 278,000 homes that have been sitting empty for longer than six months.

Bringing empty homes back into use is a key priority for Wandsworth Council.

Last year 45 empty properties in Wandsworth were brought back into use following direct intervention from the town hall.

These included a large property which had fallen into disrepair and whose owners had not been able to afford repairs and renovations.

Following detailed discussions with the council’s housing team and the awarding of a £125,000 grant, the property was transformed into five self-contained flats which now provide accommodation to five homeless families that were on the council’s waiting list.

Another was a derelict property attracting complaints from neighbours about crime and anti-social behaviour and adversely affecting the street scene.

When advice and support from the council, including the offer of loans and grants did not persuade the owners to take remedial action, the town hall warned it was considering a compulsory purchase order and this had the desired effect.

The property was completely repaired, renovated and modernised and is now being rented by a local family.

“Bringing empty and derelict homes back into use is an important area of work for all councils so I’m proud we are leading the way in London.  There are at least 45 families who have been given the keys to a home in the past year as a direct result of our efforts.

“If action is not taken vacant homes can become magnets for crime and anti-social behaviour and can also create repair and maintenance problems for neighbouring properties – as well as being a missed opportunity to offer people a roof over their heads,” said Wandsworth Council housing spokesman Cllr Kim Caddy.

“In most cases our ability and willingness to offer professional and technical advice as well as financial support helps make the difference in persuading owners to get the necessary works done to bring the property back into use.

“And if that doesn’t work then we do have legal powers we can use to achieve the same goal. It is a carrot and stick approach that is proving successful and demonstrates our determination to recover these lost homes,” she said.