Some 200,000 flats and houses in England have been empty for over six months, out of over 600,000 vacant properties altogether. National Empty Homes Week is seeking to tackle the housing shortage.
Anthony Owen, Managing Director of VPS, a vacant property management firm, said: “Vacant homes are such a waste of housing stock. So this annual initiative by Empty Homes is a welcome opportunity to highlight how quickly empty units can be turned around and brought back into use.“
To mark the week, VPS is offering a free PacLock to protect utilities for inspections booked during the week. Every year, the firm says, it helps turn 20,000 empty social houses into homes for new tenants.
Owen adds: “To support National Empty Homes Week, we’re offering free PacLocks. They may be simple low-tech devices, but they prevent malicious or accidental turning on of a water tap that can save thousands in repair if an empty property is flooded. Along a more hi-tech scale, VPS Smart Doors permit easy, authorised access via Bluetooth to empty homes for repairs and maintenance checks, whilst keeping unwanted visitors out.
“Preparing properties for new tenants is far more than just securing it with screens and locks. Internal repairs and refurbishment, outdoor ground clearance and maintenance, and clean and clears are all typical operations. But you also need specially trained teams to cope with hazardous waste, deep cleans, and mould removal. Mould is classed as a category one health risk, the same as asbestos, so you really need to know what you are doing to remove and prevent it re-occurring.”
Earlier this year VPS won a sole supplier agreement with Procurement for Housing (PfH) whose members account for 75pc of the UK’s social housing stock. The agreement provides a one-stop shop of services from start to finish for looking after empty homes and preparing them for new tenants.
