National Empty Homes Action Plan - final draft

Dear NAEPP Members

The latest draft of our proposals are now on the website. You can find the document on the front page of the website You will  not need to log in to download the document.  Your feedback will be welcomed via emails to admin@naepp.org.uk .

Where people have given feedback this has been credited in the document and there will be one more bite of the cherry if you wish to see your name in lights in this way. I expect it to be sent out with a press release to interested parties next week and then the fun will begin. Hopefully someone, somewhere with more influence than us will pick it up.

It has been dedicated to the memory of Bob Lawrence, the first Chief Executive of the Empty Homes Agency, who died last November and had been so influential in creating the profession of empty homes practitioner.  The Executive has agreed a donation of £125 to the homelessness charity Crisis via the Bob Lawrence page on the justgiving website.  Further donations from those who value what Bob achieved for empty homes work (and homelessness) will be appreciated.

This version is substantially expanded from the previous version.  Each of the key points now has a rationale.  But it continues to hammer home the cental point that what is needed is for the government to take a lead by setting some targets and creating a national initiative to generate more oomph behind empty homes work.

Much is made of the balance of interests between taxpayer and property owner because this is where the political sensitivity lies and also where some of the barriers lie to tackling problematic empties more effectively.  The proposals have been re-organised to draw together those aspects in one section - if more attention is given to one side of the coin then justifiably more attention should also be given to the other.

In the process of writing the rationale many refinements to the original wording of the proposals has seemed advisable.

I am sure there are more proposals that could be made and this will continue to remain a working draft even after official publication.

I hope you will have time to read this soon.  Enjoy!

David G