Trafford Council targets 1,000 empty homes in borough

Figures released recently by Trafford Council show there were more than 1,000 empty properties in the Manchester borough prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the council’s most recent Empty Homes Strategy Review, 1,095 properties had been empty for six months or more, with 163 homes vacant for two years or more.

The council says it intends to prioritise those 163 to help provide additional social housing for people in need. This follows the announcement in November 2019 that it would quadruple the cost of council tax for private property owners who left their homes empty.

Councillor James Wright, Trafford council’s executive member for housing, said: “Empty homes are of no use to anyone and we are committed to bringing as many properties back to use as we possibly can.”

Trafford’s Empty Homes Strategy (2019-2024) is reviewed and updated on a quarterly basis, with an update report published every year