Harrogate council to offer £800,000 for three empty homes
by
Aug 23, 2021
41 Electric Avenue which the council hopes to buy and sell on

Harrogate Borough Council is set to offer £811,000 for three empty homes in the district.

The homes, which are on Greenfields Drive and Electic Avenue in Harrogate, and Beech Lane in Spofforth, would not be used for social housing but instead would be sold on by HBC on the open market should the offers be accepted by the owners.

Any profits made would go back into buying more empty homes so they can be brought back into use.

There are currently 811 properties across the district that have been empty for six months or longer. Of these, 215 have been empty and unfurnished for over two years. 31 have been empty for over ten years.


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The report says:

“Empty homes represent a wasted housing resource; they also pose other problems for local authorities, owners, neighbours, emergency services and the environment. They are often a blemish on an area and can be subject to vandalism and anti-social behaviour.”

A report will go before HBC’s cabinet member for housing and safer communities, Conservative Cllr Mike Chambers, next week that asks him to rubber stamp the move.

If the council’s offers on the three homes are not accepted the report says HBC will consider enforcement action, such as compulsory purchase.