News MBC looking to help empty home owners
Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is offering to help empty home owners by purchasing the property to provide quality housing for people in the borough who need temporary accommodation.
As part of ‘National Empty Homes Week’ (28 February – 6 March), the MBC Housing Team has launched its own mission to bring quality housing accommodation back to the local community and is looking to purchase 2or 3 bedroom properties in the borough. The Project will help transform an empty property from what may be a financial burden into a new home and become a great benefit to the community.
As part of the Empty Homes Acquisition Project, MBC is giving some owners the opportunity to reduce their costs of selling the property by offering to pay for an independent survey, mitigate estate agents fees and support people throughout the process.
MBC is particularly interested in properties that are:
- In the borough of Maidstone
- Not in a “dilapidated” state of repair.
- A freehold.
- Two or three bedroom
On average each year the Council receives over a thousand homelessness applications; 2018/19 = 1,200, 2019/20 = 1,354 and 2020/21= 1,148.
Vice Chair of the MBC Community, Homes and Environment Committee, Cllr Simon Webb said: “Every year hundreds of families are threatened with homelessness and need temporary accommodation in our borough whilst at the same time there are many empty homes which could help them. The Council has taken the initiative to help both parties; the empty home owners who are looking to sell the property and those in need of a home. I would encourage anyone who thinks they are eligible to contact the MBC Housing Team to see how they can help.”
MBC has introduced a *criteria around the Empty Homes Acquisition Project, and any owners who would like to find out more information should contact the Council Housing Team. Please email: PropertyAcquisitions@Maidstone.gov.uk