8:33am Saturday 5th July 2008
By Janaki Mahadevan
Nearly 400 Hertsmere homes have been left empty for six months or more, it was revealed last Wednesday.
At a Hertsmere Borough Council meeting, Councillor Di Hoeksma asked what was being done to tackle the problem of the borough's long-term empty properties.
Councillor Hannah David, portfolio holder for housing, said the council tax team had identified 378 properties left unoccupied for six months or more, of which 40 are rented out by housing associations.
She said: "Research is being undertaken to gain a clear picture of long-term empty houses, which is necessary to assess resources to bring them back into use.
"The council has been engaged in a number of initiatives to help reduce the amount of empty properties in the borough. For example, last year 30 households in need of housing were helped into the private rented sector through a rent deposit scheme."
But Ms Hoeksma said more should be done to help more than 1,300 people on the housing waiting list.
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