Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has ramped up its efforts to address the local housing shortage by appointing a dedicated Empty Homes Officer. This new role is specifically designed to target the hundreds of uninhabited properties across the borough and transition them back into active use.
The move comes as the council faces significant pressure to meet a government target of nearly 20,000 new houses by 2041. With the rental sector under strain and demand for local housing at an all-time high, officials are looking at existing infrastructure as a vital part of the solution.
The Scale of the Issue
Current data reveals that approximately 470 homes in the borough have stood empty for more than six months. These properties, which range from small flats to large family houses and bungalows, are officially classified as long-term empty.
The newly appointed officer is tasked with:
- Identifying and mapping vacant properties throughout the area.
- Tracing owners who may have moved away or lost track of the property.
- Providing support and guidance to help owners bring these buildings back to habitable standards.
Financial and Social Consequences
Properties often fall into disuse due to complex legal hurdles like probate, high renovation costs, or being held as investments. However, leaving a property empty carries a heavy financial burden for the owner.
Council tax premiums are applied to uninhabited homes to encourage occupancy. Owners face an additional 100% premium after one year of vacancy, rising to 200% after five years, and a staggering 300% for properties left empty for a decade or more.
Beyond the financial cost, vacant homes can become magnets for anti-social behaviour and vandalism, often dragging down the aesthetic and safety of a neighbourhood.
A Commitment to Community
Cllr Robin Betts, the cabinet member for housing, emphasised that every empty property represents a wasted resource.
“Every property that is lying empty is a potential home for someone,” says Cllr Betts. “This new role shows our continued commitment to an innovative approach to creating housing. It’s good for residents, good for communities and good for the borough as a whole.”
Early work by the Empty Homes Officer is already yielding results, with several long-term vacant properties currently undergoing negotiations to return them to the housing market.
Residents who are aware of a vacant property in their street can assist the council by reporting it via the official Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council website.
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