Portsmouth City Council is set to review a comprehensive strategy addressing the empty homes issue across the city. The approach focuses on early intervention and collaborative efforts to return vacant properties to use.
The empty private residential strategy goes before the cabinet member for housing and tackling homelessness on Wednesday, 10 December. Upon approval, the framework will remain operational through December 2030.
Whilst empty homes surged by nearly 25% nationally between 2018 and 2023, Portsmouth experienced a more modest 1.2% increase during the same timeframe. As previously reported, approximately 950 properties currently stand vacant across the city. Nearly three-quarters of these remain empty for under two years.
Properties vacant for more than six months receive classification as empty homes. Various circumstances contribute to the empty homes issue, including owners relocating abroad, bereavement, care requirements away from home, or difficulties meeting standards suitable for sale or rental.
Bringing empty properties back into circulation increases housing availability, supports affordable accommodation provision, enhances neighbourhoods, and offers financial advantages to owners through rental income or sales whilst eliminating ongoing maintenance expenses.
The draft strategy establishes four primary objectives: supporting property owners to return homes to use, addressing resident concerns such as pest problems or severely overgrown gardens, improving cross-council coordination, and contacting owners promptly to prevent long-term vacancy.
Through collective action, the council aims to establish shared responsibility for the empty homes issue, ultimately increasing housing availability for residents in need, including those on the housing register.
The council conducted a consultation in July, engaging city residents and owners of empty properties to gauge support for the proposed measures. From 805 responses received, 80% of participants supported the strategy’s aims and provided feedback. Full results appear on the Your City Your Say webpage.
Cllr Darren Sanders, Cabinet Member for Housing and Tackling Homelessness, stated: “This strategy builds on our work to tackle homelessness, including allocating £31m over two years to buy homes for people that need temporary accommodation. We’re committed to having affordable and high-quality housing available in our city. We know locals can get angry when they see homes empty for ages and, even though the rise in empty homes is lower in Portsmouth than elsewhere, we must do all we can to bring them back into use.”
Residents concerned about the empty homes issue in their neighbourhood or property owners seeking assistance can report an empty home via the online form, email emptyproperties@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or telephone 023 9260 6193.
