“we want to know about empty homes”

EMPty hoMEs are more of a problem in Derbyshire Dales than in other nearby areas, according to Peter scoffings, empty homes officer at Derbyshire Dales District Council.

Speaking at a well-attended Wirksworth Civic Society open meeting at Wellspring Church on May 22, Mr Scoffings said that the DDDC area has lots of holiday homes and second homes, and a shortage of building land. “But some properties have been empty for a long time – we have 550 properties which have been empty for between two and five years,” he said. “And too often it’s because the owners simply aren’t doing anything.”

To incentivise owners to get them occupied, in 2019 the council introduced a double council tax premium on empty homes, and from April this year it rises to triple tax on homes empty for five years or more, and quadruple on homes empty for 10 years or more. “And we’re now getting a lot of people coming to us,” he said. “A building in Ashbourne which has stood empty for 15 years – the new owners have put in an application to convert it to seven flats. And the council is starting to buy up empty properties, and convert them back to council houses – we have recently bought houses in Tansley, Darley Dale and Ashbourne.”

Problems associated with empty homes include damp and roof leaks affecting adjoining properties, and rubbish and vermin accumulating. “Reasons include homes in probate, and there are currently 35 in the council area; owners who have moved to care homes; and disputes over wills. And we recognise that these things take time. Then there are repossessions and abandoned renovations, where people have run out of money – and Covid had an effect too.” homes to rent or buy, improve the condition of the housing stock, and support renovation of older properties. But we need to get some teeth, to start enforcing policies. Last week there were 1,539 properties empty in the council area, 14 of them empty for between five and 10 years, and 33 empty for more than 10 years. But 126 properties have been brought back into use over the past five months.”

Asked by an audience member about Tollbar Cottage on Cromford Road, Wirksworth, which has been empty for at least 10 years, Mr Scoffings said he is in contact with the owner and has been told that a planning application is going to be made. But asked how many empty homes there were in Wirksworth and Middleton, he said he didn’t know – nor was he aware of any council plans to buy empty homes in the town.

The main emphasis is on urban areas and town and village centres, not rural properties, he said. “We’re not opposed to holiday homes or second homes. Our priorities are to reduce the number of longterm empty homes, improve the supply of

“We want people to feed information back to us – there are empty homes out there that we don’t know about,” he said. “If I know where they are, I can find out who owns them – and why they are empty.” To report an empty home, phone 01629 761135 or email emptyhomes@ derbyshiredales.gov.uk or peter. scoffings@derbyshiredales.gov.uk