The LGA has released a new Empty Homes Officer Toolkit to help councils take practical, effective steps to tackle long-term empty homes in their area.
Created in partnership with the Empty Homes Network, the toolkit responds to calls from the sector for a more accessible, on-the-ground resource.
It offers detailed guidance on how councils can identify empty properties, set up and manage an empty homes database, and progress cases efficiently.
The toolkit includes: a step-by-step guide through the stages of empty homes work; tools for data cleansing and case prioritisation; advice on applying empty homes premiums; and draft letters and a bank of information to support investigations.
Designed to streamline processes and strengthen local action, the toolkit aims to empower officers with the practical resources needed to return properties to use.
Cllr Adam Hug, LGA Housing Spokesperson, said: “This toolkit will give empty homes officers the practical tools they need to bring more properties back into use and support councils in tackling the issue more effectively.”
- The toolkit is available at www.local.gov.uk/publications