report (and find) your local empty homes
viral | 25.11.2008 10:39 | Free Spaces | Health | Birmingham
As housing becomes an ever increasing issue throughout Britain, the Empty Homes Agency is calling for local people to report empties in their area.
“At the very time people need more homes, record numbers are falling empty” says Chief Executive David Ireland. There are now enough vacant homes in England to house almost two million people yet far more attention is paid to building new ones. Councils have the power to step in and help, but can’t do so unless they know where they are and won’t unless they know people care”, he said.
Therefore they have launched a new website for people to report the empties that they are aware of:
http://reportemptyhomes.com/
Most interesting is that there is a function where people can view recently reported empties, with a handy little map and everything - something squatters may well be very interested in perusing also!!!!
“At the very time people need more homes, record numbers are falling empty” says Chief Executive David Ireland. There are now enough vacant homes in England to house almost two million people yet far more attention is paid to building new ones. Councils have the power to step in and help, but can’t do so unless they know where they are and won’t unless they know people care”, he said.
Therefore they have launched a new website for people to report the empties that they are aware of:
http://reportemptyhomes.com/
Most interesting is that there is a function where people can view recently reported empties, with a handy little map and everything - something squatters may well be very interested in perusing also!!!!
viral
Homepage:
http://reportemptyhomes.com/
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
giving details
25.11.2008 14:32
Just so people know in advance, this website expects you to give a name and email address before submitting reports of empty properties. It suggests these details will get passed on to the relevant local authority. Bit off-putting, if you ask me.
laura
fake it....
25.11.2008 16:00
or just use the site for some details of empties...there's not a lot on there at the moment, and any reported are passed directly to the local authority with the expectation that they may do something about it.
so in reality they may notice quickly that there's squatters in the property....but in reality who know's if the council's are going to be that on it. and if they don't own the property and struggle to locate the owner, it'll at least buy people a bit of time through the cold winter.
for me, a good use would be the naming and shaming of social landlords (including council's themselves) who are keeping properties empty rather than housing people. there's been ongoing campaigning around one housing association in particular in bristol, and if a site like this could provide more evidence of their shoddy practices - well, that would be really useful
viral
Nothing spooky here...
26.11.2008 10:15
They may wish to give you a call if the address specification is unclear, and as the prev poster says, they may call you after assessing your report to let you know what they're going to do about it.
Jon