About No Use Empty

There are currently around 6,427 long term (more than 6 months) empty properties across Kent, depriving people of a much needed home (Nov 2012). This has reduced by 670 based on previous years total of 7,097 with No Use Empty contributing to bringing back 449 propreties (67%) into use by applying a variety of interventions.

No Use Empty continues to support the existing work carried out by the local councils to tackle the problem, giving housing officers access to a wider group of resources, skills and experiences and engaging in a joined-up approach with Kent County Council and bordering districts to achieve improved results in returning properties back to use.

Widely praised across the UK as a unique partnership between County and local councils, achieving tangible results, the Initiative was expanded in 2008 to embrace the whole of Kent. No Use Empty has brought back into use over 2,300 properties since the launch of the initiative, with dozens more properties in the pipeline.

NO USE EMPTY - 5TH ANNIVERSARY - VIEW PRESENTATIONS BELOW

In November 2010, No Use Empty brought together property owners, housing experts and local authorities to mark five years of success, share best practice and boost participation across the County. The initiative welcomed empty housing experts from around the country to discuss empty housing issues and the impact of the Government’s allocation of £100million for bringing empty homes into use as part of the national Affordable Housing Programme 2011-15.

David Ireland, Chief Executive of Empty Homes, was a guest speaker at the event. He said; “The subject of empty homes affects real lives and real communities. Across the UK, the number of long term empty properties is rising. However, in Kent, the number of empty homes has actually fallen in recent years and this is the only place that has happened, thanks to the No Use Empty initiative. Similar ideals are now being taken on across the country to emulate Kent’s practices and successes.”

Other representatives at the event included Kevin Lynes, KCC Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Gera Drymer, Policy Manager, Homes and Communities Agency, Ian Fletcher Director of Policy, British Property Federation, Steve Grimshaw, Regeneration Project Manager, Kent County Council and Andrew Lavender, Project Consultant and Brian Horton, KCC Strategic Housing Advisor.

A Selection of the Presentations in PDF format. Please scroll over the images below.