Council plans to revive empty homes in North Northamptonshire
New strategy aims to rejuvenate vacant properties and boost community living
North Northants Council (NNC) has launched plans to transform long-term empty homes into valuable community assets, addressing the region's approximately 400 vacant properties. The authority's new Empty Homes Strategy outlines a series of measures to revitalise neighbourhoods and enhance housing options.
The plan will be reviewed by the council’s place environment and scrutiny committee next week before seeking formal adoption by the executive in May. A key focus is on reducing the negative impacts of empty homes, which can attract anti-social behaviour, degrade neighbourhoods, and even pose risks such as arson.
NNC's strategy identifies clear benefits for both local authorities and communities from repurposing empty properties. These include increasing housing choice and quality, boosting Council Tax revenue, and reducing costs related to property security.
The strategy details enforcement tools available to councils, such as Enforced Sales, Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs), and Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs), designed to ensure empty properties are brought back to use effectively. More stringent measures will be employed only after engaging with the property owner and finding no progress towards rehabilitation.
Currently, there is no formal requirement for authorities to track long-term empty properties or to mandate their re-utilisation. NNC has until now addressed empty properties reactively based on complaints about anti-social behaviour or other risks.
The council’s proactive approach aims to empower officers with greater leverage to encourage owners to undertake necessary works for property restoration. Starting April 2026, homeowners with properties empty for over a year will face double Council Tax charges, further incentivising action.
The Empty Homes Strategy represents NNC’s commitment to tackling housing challenges, promoting vibrant communities, and leveraging unused resources for the betterment of North Northamptonshire residents.