Dawlish Discussion

There are more than 2,400 empty homes across Devon – and 117 of them have been vacant for five years, research by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

Councillor Humphrey Clemens, Teignbridge District Council’s Executive Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning, said: “Bringing empty homes back into use is often a complex challenging piece of work and properties become empty for a variety of reasons, for example owners moving into nursing homes or homes going into probate.

Recently, the council has taken a more robust use of powers having approved the serving of an Urgent Works Notice with regards to a property in Dawlish and agreed a Compulsory Purchase Order in respect of another one in Teignmouth.

Read more...http://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/thousands-much-needed-homes-left-1033596

How many council owned buildings are empty that could be refurbished to accomodation for those in need of shelter.

If council's did not waste so much and spend so much on themselves then resources would be available for the basic needs of people, instead of the hair brained schemes they come up with on a regular basis.

I wonder how many homes are empty because the owner has died and not left a will and no one has come forward to claim. In these circumstances the property will stand empty for years before the government gets its greedy hands on it.

I asled that very question many years ago of Exeter City Council as to how many houses they owned, that were standing empty

There answer was on these lines. :- We have to keep a stock of empty properties for unforeseen circumstances and there are proffessional people who move around the country (lecturers, professors and the like, that need accomodation at very short notice.

Well what are hotels for?

What peope do with their own property and that includes houses is their own business, and fake news DevonLive and local councillors need to keep their noses out. On the other hand what local authorities do with their properties is of public interest so this story needs re-targeting.