CIH/EHA/HCA: free training events

Submitted by admin on 25 August, 2010 - 16:01
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The CIH, Empty Homes and HCA are running joint free training events for local authorities around the country.  A letter from the EHA reads as follows:

"In order to help local authorities, the Homes and Communities Agency, in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Housing and the charity Empty Homes is launching a skills and learning programme to assist local authorities develop their approach to empty homes. Presented by one of the countries most respected and experienced practioners. [We understand this is Dave Stott].

New local news-story-of-the-week feature on EHN website

Submitted by admin on 24 August, 2010 - 18:02
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Since February full members of EHN and subscribers have been able to access our weekly News Summaries, containing links to the stories featuring empty homes as found on the internet.  We pick up a wide range of relevant material, incluidng national and local news stories, blog entries, changes to websites and so on.  As of today (24th August 2010), we've introduced a new feature whereby every week we highlight strong local news stories that highlight the impact of empty homes practitioners in helping their communities, as reported in local newspapers.  We don't attempt to regurgitate the story, but simply link through to the original newspaper column.  These stories give useful insight into how our work is perceived by the communities that we serve and show

Transition to Empty Homes Network continues apace

Submitted by admin on 24 August, 2010 - 17:46
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The transition from NAEPP to EHN continues apace with our new domain www.ehnetwork.org.uk replacing www.naepp.org.uk and the new logo and organisation name appearing in the site banner.   You are strongly recommended to update any bookmarks to the new domain name.  Similarly, email addresses will now be admin@ehnetwork.org.uk etc.  That said, NAEPP email and web addresses should continue to work for the time being.  And no doubt there will a few rogue references and links to NAEPP to track down in our web-pages - let us know if you find any.

Rossendale CPOs hit local headlines

Submitted by admin on 24 August, 2010 - 08:33
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The Lancashire Telegraph reports Rossendale's plans to CPO 4 properties saying "A SENIOR councillor and neighbours have heralded moves to clean up four ‘eyesore’ sites across Haslingden."

The story can be found here

Westminster Briefing: Maximising the Use of Empty Homes

Submitted by admin on 20 August, 2010 - 13:03
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21 Oct 2010 10:40
21 Oct 2010 15:15
Event Description: 

Maximising the Use of Empty Homes: Working Together to Revitalise Properties and Regenerate Communities

Date: Thursday, 21st October 2010

Time: 10.40am – 3.15pm (including networking lunch)

Venue: Westminster, London

Cost: £225 per place, £175 for two or more place

With reports suggesting that fewer than 100,000 homes will be built in 2011, empty homes look set to play a pivotal role in helping to address the UK’s housing supply shortfall. But exactly what kind of support will the Government provide for councils, RSLs and charities in order to maximize the use of empty homes; and whatever the level and form of help on offer, how can available incentives and enforcement powers be innovatively used to revitalise empty properties and regenerate communities?

Answers to these questions and more will be debated at Westminster Briefing’s forthcoming Empty Homes event. Empty Homes Network’s David Gibbens will form part of an expert panel tackling key issues, such as:

  • Bringing empty homes into use voluntarily: intelligent, cost-effective use of grants and tax incentives
  • Helping local authorities: what are the future empty property funding arrangements for councils?
  • Housing providers: how does the Government intend to support RSLs to invest in empty homes?
  • The third sector: more responsibility & more support for housing charities and community groups?
  • Enforcement action: rethinking and making effective use of powers available to councils
  • The wider implications of empty homes: analysing the impact on anti-social behaviour & crime

To view a full agenda please click here

Delegates will be drawn from a wide range of stakeholders. These will include; local authorities (in particular empty property officers, housing officers, regeneration and economic development officers), council members, RSLs, charities and community groups, legal companies, relevant central government departments and bodies, developers, letting agents and any other practitioner with an interest in maximising the use of empty properties.

Region: 
Not Applicable
Location: 
London
Event_Type: 
Conference
Contact details: 

To book a place or for further details on the event, please visit the Westminster Briefing website or contact John Nassoori (0207 096 2926) for more information.

Event link: 
http://www.westminster-briefing.com/?p=15731

HCA debate on empty homes extended to 31st August

Submitted by admin on 16 August, 2010 - 10:55
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This debate is now being extended to the 31st August 2010.

Gera Drymer, who leads on this at the HCA is giving presentations on the discussion at CLG-organised meetings so it is reasonable to assume that the issues debated will figure in the deliberations of the coalition government as they consider how to move forwards with empty homes policy. This is an opportunity for empty homes practitioners to highlight the really important issues we face and lessons we have learned. 

BPF calls for more focus on empty homes

Submitted by admin on 15 August, 2010 - 07:32
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The British Property Federation has added its weight to the current debates about empty homes.  The BPF has been a long-time supporter of empty homes work and used to host NAEPP Executive meetings for several years.  As far as we know, the support is currently in the form of a press release, but we are confident that there is more going on behind the scenes.  A key player in the property industry, BPF's support for the issue is to be welcomed.

Details of the press release can be found here.

Vacant Dwellings in England (Review)

Submitted by admin on 2 June, 2010 - 10:24
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(Review)

Vacant Dwellinngs in England
The challenges and costs of bringing them back into use

By Maggie Davidson and Kevin White
Published by BRE Trust, 2010,  ISBN 978-1-84806-131-6, A4, 20pp. £26.44 (instant download) or £22.50 (hard copy).

It is very much to the credit of the BRE Trust that they have commissioned this report.  It's the first serious analysis of vacant dwellings since the Department of the Environment report Vacant Dwellings in the Private Sector, published 15 years ago.

Empty Property Practitioner of the Year Award 2010 Results

Submitted by admin on 31 May, 2010 - 11:12

 Judging the Empty Property Practitioner of the Year Award 2010, sponsored by Ad Hoc Property Management Ltd  proved to be a difficult business, with some high quality submissions.  The panel consisted of Keith Gunner of Southampton City Council, Britain's longest-serving Empty Homes Officer and himself a winner of an Empty Homes Agency Liftetime Achievement award, Nick Hilton of Ad Hoc Property Management, and David Gibbens (NAEPP Secretary).

Birmingham Conference 2010 pictures

Submitted by admin on 29 May, 2010 - 19:02
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109 people attended the NAEPP Empty Homes conference in Birmingham.  Our venue had a nominal capacity of 120, but 109 seemed to be pushing the limits of capacity somewhat.  Still we had some extremely good speakers and presentations and there was plenty to learn and enjoy.

EPP of the Year Award 2010 - ZainulEPP of the Year Award 2010 - ZainulZainul Pirmohamed being presented with the Empty Property Practitoner of the Year Award

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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