Reducing the number of empty homes across the district will be the focus of a week long campaign by members of Wychavon’s housing team.

As part of Action on Empty Homes Week, which runs from 23 to 29 September, officers will be taking to the streets to hear from residents about the impact empty homes are having on their community.

The team will be available to talk to on Monday, 23 September between 11am and 1pm outside Asda in Pershore, Tuesday 24 September between 2pm and 4pm in the main entrance of Morrison’s in Evesham and Thursday, 26 September between 10am and 12pm by the War Memorial in Droitwich near to the library.

Information received will then be used to investigate and take action to bring those properties back into use.

Tackling empty homes is a key issue for Wychavon. Not only does bringing them back into use help meet demand for housing but it also reduces the risk of them falling into disrepair and becoming a magnet for anti-social behaviour. A range of options are available to officers to deal with empty homes including negotiating with the property owner, removing Council Tax discounts to encourage actions, enforced sales and the council taking charge of a property using an Empty Dwelling Management Order.

Between April 2017 and August 2019 a total of 260 empty homes have been brought back into use by Wychavon’s housing team.

Cllr Christopher Day, responsible for housing, health and well-being on Wychavon District Council, said: “With demand for housing so high, there can be no justification for allowing homes to just stand empty. That’s why we’ve made tackling this issue a priority.

“Identifying these properties is a challenge though, which is why it’s so important residents let us know about issues they are having with empty homes in their neighbourhood so we can take action.”

Empty homes can be reported online at wychavon.gov.uk/empty-homes or call 01386 565490.