Agenda item

Cllr. Paul Rowlinson to present the report.

To accept the report. 

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property, Cllr. Paul Rowlinson.

Reference was made to the housing crisis facing Gwynedd, noting that the significant number of empty houses added to the current problems. It was noted that the management of empty houses was one of the main priorities in the Council's Plan and the Housing Action Plan. It was noted that the Council Tax Premium had been levied on houses in Gwynedd that had been vacant for 12 months or more, to encourage owners to restore the property and bring the houses back into use. It was elaborated that the Council offered a number of schemes that supported people to renovate empty houses to bring them up to a safe standard of living. It was confirmed that 123 homes in Gwynedd had benefited from the Empty Homes Grant. It was noted that this had a positive impact on the local economy through the use of local contractors.

It was confirmed that first-time buyers often received an exemption from the Empty Homes Premium for one year, to facilitate the restoration of the property. However, a Member noted concern about the Empty Homes Premium and the period of the payment exemption for one year. It was expressed that Gwynedd was a unique area where there was a vast difference between areas across the county. It was noted that sympathy should be felt with those who inherit a house as part of a loved one's estate, noting that the stress of selling a property could be distressing during a difficult time. Attention was drawn to the difficulties encountered by residents when trying to sell property in some areas due to the increase in house prices, and it was therefore noted that this should be considered when setting and implementing the policies.

In response to an enquiry on the number of second homes that have been renovated into homes, it was confirmed that the grant had funded the renovation of several existing second homes to an acceptable standard of living, which had provided homes for local people in the county. It was noted that the department had already achieved the target of bringing 282 empty homes back into use in Gwynedd, with 299 homes having come back into use as a result of support from the Council through the Empty Homes Grant. However, it was noted that 1,306 homes remained empty in Gwynedd to date, which reflected the ongoing work facing the department in Gwynedd.

In response to an enquiry about the number of long-term empty houses that had been empty for years, it was explained that the owners received correspondence from the department to encourage them to bring the property back into living use. It was confirmed that the department targeted areas where houses had stood empty for a while using figures from the tax department. It was noted that this was a fundamental part of the cross-departmental work being carried out by the Enforcement Unit, within the Housing Action Plan, which operates on empty buildings which are problematic in the county.

Concern was expressed that some houses had been empty in Gwynedd for a while - getting lost in the system with owners therefore not paying any taxes or premium on the property. Frustration was expressed about the process of seizing empty properties within the county. This was recognised as being a challenge for the department but it was confirmed that the team was working with other Council departments to meet the targets set out in the Housing Action Plan.

The findings and recommendations of the Bevan Foundation Report were highlighted along with the emphasis on the need to renovate empty properties to increase the housing stock and house people in need of housing. It was asked whether any empty properties were treated in the same way as empty houses, within the Housing Action Plan. It was confirmed that the situation would need to be confirmed with the tax department.

The Bevan report was cited in noting concern about the rigidity of the Welsh Government's policy standards designation when renovating homes and properties for living use. A question was asked as to whether Cyngor Gwynedd based its Empty Homes Grant policy on the same standards as the Welsh Government. In response, it was confirmed that the Council based and complied with the designated standards within Cyngor Gwynedd's Empty Homes Grant framework to approve property renovation to bring empty homes into safe use and to an acceptable standard of living within the county. It was noted that the focus would be on dealing with internal and external works, plumbing and electrical works, etc. to bring the houses to an acceptable standard of living. It was noted that the department regularly monitored the work approved, to ensure appropriate use of the grant. It was confirmed that a restriction would be placed against the property on the land register for a period of 5 years, stating that the owner would be expected to repay an allocation to the Council if they sold the property within a 5-year period.

It was noted that the department had already achieved the target of renovating vacant homes in the county for the year. It was asked if there was a new target or if the target had increased as a result of this. It was explained that the department continued to work efficiently and was delivering good work within the Council's cross-departmental network to realise the plans. It was noted that the Scheme had already been expanded since 1 August, as part of a pilot period, to allow more people to be eligible for the Empty Homes Grant, with more local people ultimately benefitting from the support. It was noted that they were in a 3-month trial period, and that the changes would be formally incorporated from November 2025 onwards. It was confirmed that the department would continue to promote schemes through the use of social media and events. The negative impact of empty housing on communities, culture and the Welsh language was emphasised, and the Council's commitment to address the filling of second homes was reinforced.

DECISION

To accept the report.