Latest news with #housingofficers
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
More houses may be compulsorily purchased in city
Two more empty houses could be compulsorily purchased by City of Wolverhampton Council, as part of its scheme to turn long-term unoccupied properties into family homes. The homes on Warstones Drive and Hadley Road have been vacant for a number of years, and the authority's cabinet is being asked to approve the potential purchases at a meeting on Wednesday. In March, the authority said it had taken over more than 300 homes over five years to be sold or rented, many of which had been empty for many years. The council buys the properties and refurbishes them, before selling them on and putting the money back into the scheme. Both of the latest properties are semi-detached, with the one on Hadley Road being empty since August 2018 and the house on Warstones Drive vacant since January 2021. Before considering compulsory purchase, housing improvement officers work with owners to encourage them to carry out any required work and get them occupied again, the council said. Through the strategy, the authority stated it wanted to prevent properties becoming "a blight on their neighbourhood" and make them available to be sold or rented. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Hundreds of empty homes put back in use Taskforce launched to regenerate vacant properties Fly-tipping may force sale of empty home Council could force purchase of empty home City of Wolverhampton Council
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
More houses could be compulsorily purchased in Wolverhampton
Two more empty houses could be compulsorily purchased by City of Wolverhampton Council, as part of its scheme to turn long-term unoccupied properties into family homes. The homes on Warstones Drive and Hadley Road have been vacant for a number of years, and the authority's cabinet is being asked to approve the potential purchases at a meeting on March, the authority said it had taken over more than 300 homes over five years to be sold or rented, many of which had been empty for many council buys the properties and refurbishes them, before selling them on and putting the money back into the scheme. Both of the latest properties are semi-detached, with the one on Hadley Road being empty since August 2018 and the house on Warstones Drive vacant since January considering compulsory purchase, housing improvement officers work with owners to encourage them to carry out any required work and get them occupied again, the council the strategy, the authority stated it wanted to prevent properties becoming "a blight on their neighbourhood" and make them available to be sold or rented. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
ABC News
6 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Queensland government to begin social housing rent reviews to free up spaces for those in 'most need'
Social housing recipients in Queensland earning more than they should will soon be evicted from their homes to make way for new tenants. The state government claims there are some recipients earning well above the income limit that determines who is eligible for social housing. This includes a couple in Brisbane taking home more than $200,000 a year while paying less than $200 a week to live in their social housing unit. The government says another family in Townsville is paying less than $190 per week in rent despite earning an annual income of more than $160,000. From July 1, the government will launch annual rent reviews to determine if social housing recipients are still within the income limit. In Queensland, the income limit for a single person with no children is $609 per week, while for a couple it is set at $755. Tenants pay 25 per cent of their income. Those who are found to earn more than the limit will be charged at market rental rates, before they are evicted and transitioned to other housing options. Tenants who are within the housing limit but not paying 25 per cent of their income will have their rent increased, but the increase will be capped at $15 per week. Housing Minister Sam O'Connor said the government wants to make social housing available for vulnerable people and families. "We're empowering our housing officers to do what they do best — support the Queenslanders who most need a roof over their heads," he said. "These are long overdue changes to fix the system so it's better targeted to help the people who need housing most." In a bid to free up properties that are underoccupied, the government will also introduce a scheme to incentivise tenants to downsize to smaller social homes. The government hopes this will allow more families to move into social housing. The incentives will include rent free periods, as well covering the costs of removalists. The government estimates thousands of bedrooms in the state's social housing stock are vacant. About 50,000 people were on Queensland's social housing register as of December last year.
