Below is a template press release on long term empty homes for local use based on the Liberal Democrat story which was front page of the Guardian today.
The full break down by local council can be found here: https://docs.google.com/
The majority of councils have not made use of Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMO), powers used by local authorities to take over properties that have been empty for at least two years. Only 19 of the 247 councils in England and Wales that responded (the powers do not apply in Scotland) had used an EDMO in the past five years. Of these only six had used one in the past year. Data on whether your local authority have used these powers is in the spreadsheet.
All the best,
Dave
[NUMBER] homes across [REGION] left empty for years
Over [NUMBER] homes in [REGION] have been sitting empty for ten years or more, research by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.
The figures, uncovered through Freedom of Information requests, show that there are over [NUMBER] homes across the country that have been empty for six months or more. Of these, [NUMBER] had been empty for two years or more, [NUMBER] for five years or more, and over [NUMBER] have stood empty for at least ten years.
[LOCAL AUTHORITY] has failed to make use of Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMO), powers used by local authorities to take over properties that have been empty for at least two years. This is despite the fact that some local families have spent Christmas without a home.
Nationally only 19 of the 247 councils in England and Wales that responded (the powers do not apply in Scotland) had used an EDMO in the past five years. Of these only six had used one in the past year.
[SPOKESPERSON] said:
“At a time when the homelessness crisis is worsening and more and more people are sleeping out in the cold on our streets, it is a scandal that so many homes locally are sitting empty.
“These homes could be turned into affordable places to live for those that need it across [REGION]
“The Government needs to urgently review the current system which is clearly not working and [LOCAL AUTHORITY] needs to be given the powers and resources to bring empty homes back
into use.
***ONLY USE IF YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY HAS NOT USED AN EDMO***
“It is shameful that [LOCAL AUTHORITY] has failed to use existing powers to end this scandal. Local families have spent Christmas homeless because of [CONSERVATIVE/LABOUR] inaction and ineptitude.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Full figures by local council can be found here