PRESS RELEASE
7 December 2011
Private property at root of Manchester’s empty homes crisis
PRIVATE property owners across Manchester need more Government support to prevent the region’s empty homes mountain spiralling out of control.
In Greater Manchester there are 51,189 empty homes with a staggering 89 percent owned by private home owners. The remaining 11 per cent are owned by housing associations, the council and other public bodies.
The government has announced a £50m fund to help councils take over and decommission some of the 930,000 homes believed to be empty. However, rental specialists say the government must do more to support the private rental sector which plays a vital role in housing people unable to get on the housing ladder.
This week Channel 4 began The Great British Property Scandal, a season of special programmes highlighting the UK’s million-plus empty homes and considering possible solutions.
One residential letting agents Jordan’s, has launched a new scheme to help those sitting on empty properties to bring them back to life.
Robert Jordan, chairman at Jordan’s, which has offices in Manchester, Altrincham, Bolton, Fallowfield, Warrington and Wilmslow, said:
“We don’t need to be pressuring the council, but the Government which should be supporting the private owners. Bringing an empty home back to use can only be a change for the better – there’s so much untapped property potential in our area. Once a property suffers significant damage the cost can escalate and owners run the risk of tempting squatters. By doing nothing with your empty property the council will invoke legal powers, they could even enforce the sale of the property.
“In the last Budget it was disappointing the Government didn’t introduce measures to encourage people with empty properties back into the market. We’re launching a new Bring it Back scheme to help property owners.
“Jordan's works out the rent that could be achieved. Property maintenance specialists Jigsaw Property Care examines the refurbishment costs and will organise funding in return for a share of the rent. The landlord makes a small contribution and Jordan’s recovers these costs from the rent when it lets out the property, at no cost to the landlord except for fees and small legal costs. The property is then safe to be let out earning a small initial rent to the landlord. After the refurbishment costs have been paid back the landlord will receive full rent minus the fees. A win-win situation”
A survey by The Great British Property Scandal season found 76 per cent of British adults say they agree Britain is in a housing crisis.
Ends
For further information or photography, please contact:
Heidi Boden - 0161 927 3131