News

A campaign that aims to bring empty properties in East Kent back into use is urging the public to play their part in helping to tackle the problem by reporting empty properties in their neighbourhood.

The appeal has been made to coincide with the Empty Homes Agency’s National Week of Action (3rd – 7th December 2007), which aims to raise awareness of the problems caused by empty housing across the UK.

The No Use Empty initiative is a partnership made up of Kent County Council and the four district councils of  Dover, Shepway, Thanet and Swale. Launched in response to the recurring problem of empty housing in East Kent and the detrimental impact it has on local communities, the campaign is encouraging owners of empty properties to bring them back into use and create much-needed homes for people across the region.

Since the initiative was launched two years ago, over 300 properties have been brought back into use across the four districts.

Susan Pledger, project manager of the No Use Empty campaign, said: “We have made excellent progress since the campaign was launched two years ago, and have exceeded our target figures for bringing empty properties back into use.

“While our Empty Property Officers are aware of the majority of empty houses in the region, we are calling on the public to report properties in their local community which they believe to be long term vacant. “

Around 3000 properties are currently empty in East Kent. Empty properties devalue surrounding housing and often make the area look run down. It also encourages anti-social behaviour such crime, vandalism and can attract squatters.

Empty properties can also have a negative impact on the trade of local businesses.

A website has also been launched – www.no-use-empty.org – which provides a one-stop information resource on empty housing.