
Report empty homes and we'll revamp them, says Hull City Council
"Empty – usually dilapidated – properties deprive people of much-needed homes," Drake-Davis said."They also have a negative effect on neighbourhoods, making them look uncared for and can encourage anti-social behaviour and rodent infestations."He said the council would do "everything within our power" to bring homes back into use and called on residents to help by offering their "local knowledge".According to the council, an empty home can be reported on the authority's website. It will then be checked and boarded up, with rubbish cleared and any water leaks stopped.The owner will be contacted to discuss the next steps, which could include a sale to a private landlord, an agreement allowing the council to rent it out, or acquisition by the council.A spokesperson for the authority said it was "retrofitting" empty properties to be "more energy efficient and healthier".One example of this work was in De Grey Street, where a row of flats and houses was being brought back into use by contractor Kingston Works Limited.Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
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