Liverpool City Council is launching a new, free matchmaking service today – for would be owners of a lonely house.
The council is aiming to introduce buyers and sellers of vacant properties in a bid to bring more empty homes back into use after slashing long term vacancies by a quarter since 2014.
Liverpool can reveal its number of long term empty properties (empty for more than six months) has dropped from 6,382 to 4,800.
And to mark Empty Homes Week, Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson has set a new target of bringing a further 3,000 new homes back into use over the next three years.
Key successes in this regeneration drive includes Liverpool council’s celebrated homes for a pound scheme which has now seen 40 properties fully converted with another 60 in the pipeline.
The city council also works with private sector partners in the Liverpool Housing Partnership, a scheme which aims to bring up to 1,000 vacant homes back into use as part of a £205 million investment over a five-year period which this year saw the opening of the award winning regeneration of Marwood Towers in Everton, north Liverpool.
Mayor Anderson said: “Empty properties are wasted homes and can cause a range of problems that impacts on the environment and value of neighbouring properties.
“We’ve made huge strides in bringing down the number of long term vacant properties in recent years and this matchmaking service is part of a new approach to stimulate the market and create even more new affordable homes for families.”
Councillor Frank Hont, Cabinet Member for Housing, added: “We are regularly approached by investors enquiring about empty homes in the city so we know the demand is there.
“A lot of effort will be going into making this pilot scheme work, with an empty homes loan being looked into, because it has the potential to make even more progress in breathing new life back into communities blighted by this issue.”
The free matchmaking service, launched from today, has been designed to be a simple step by step service.
All empty home owners have to do is complete a property information form, the details from which will be shared via email to more than 100 investors already registered on the council’s database.
- Owners of an empty property wishing to register for the scheme, or if you are interested in purchasing an empty property in the city, should email Emptyhomes@liverpool.gov.uk
Long term vacant property turnarounds – Liverpool’s “super six” schemes:
- Granby – 90 properties brought back into use
- Marwood Towers, Everton – 53 properties brought back into use
- Homes for a Pound – Anfield and Wavertree – 40 properties brought back into use
- Welsh Streets, Toxteth – 35 properties brought back into use – (see pic attached).
- Anfield Village – 25 properties brought back into use
- Arnside Road, Edge Hill – 20 properties brought back into use
