Caerphilly County Borough Council has announced the launch of a new team to tackle the issue of empty properties.
The authority’s Cabinet gave the green light for the team to be established to proactively deal with empty homes throughout the county borough and as part of wider plans to deal with vacant properties, particularly in town centres.
An action plan has been developed which sets out a series of actions to build on the council’s current work in engaging with owners of empty properties and bringing them back into beneficial use.
The team also has powers to take enforcement action in cases where residential properties are causing significant concern.
Commenting, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Care and Housing, Councillor Shayne Cook said:
“I’d like to welcome our new members of staff to ‘Team Caerphilly’ and look forward to working with them to tackle this issue.
“As well as being an unsightly blot on our communities, long-term empty properties can also become a magnet for anti-social behaviour.
“Whilst the council has already been supporting owners to bring empty homes back into use for several years, this dedicated team will further enhance this work.
"Alongside improving local communities, the team will also link in with the council’s Housing Solutions team to potentially use some of these formerly empty homes to help meet housing need in the county borough and prevent homelessness.”
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