Caerphilly County Borough Council has launched a new team to tackle the issue of vacant properties, as part of wider clampdown which targets town centres
The council’s Cabinet has given the go-ahead to establish a team that will proactively deal with empty homes throughout the county borough.
By developing an action plan the council sets out to build on the current strategy in engaging with owners of empty properties to try and bring houses back into beneficial use.
The team possesses powers to take enforcement action in circumstances where residential properties are causing a significant problem.
Improving local communities and helping the homeless
Cllr Shayne Cook, the council’s cabinet member for social care and housing, said:
“I’d like to welcome our new members of staff to Team Caerphilly and look forward to working with them to tackle this issue.
“As well as being an unsightly blot on our communities, long-term empty properties can also become a magnet for anti-social behaviour.
“Whilst the council has already been supporting owners to bring empty homes back into use for several years, this dedicated team will further enhance this work.”
The team will also work with the council’s Housing Solutions team with an aim to assign homeless individuals to a formerly empty home.
