Filling Up Empty Homes
Wigan Council is bucking the national trend by reducing the number of empty homes in their area. Neil Tonge, housing standards manager, actively seeks out owners of vacant properties and encourages them to bring the homes back into use for those in need. This initiative not only addresses the housing shortage but also tackles associated problems like anti-social behavior and drug use in abandoned properties. Hosts Jessica Reyes and Patricia Wu break down the story with Charlotte Lewis in this segment of Psychology Behind the Headlines.
Risks of Empty Residences
The council employs various methods to locate owners, including genealogy research. Often, financial difficulties or family disputes contribute to properties remaining empty. In some cases, properties are discovered to be used as cannabis farms.
To address the issue, the council collaborates with developers and charities to convert empty properties into usable housing. One such project transformed a blighted property into six flats for care leavers.
A Model For Struggling Communities
Wigan Council’s proactive approach serves as a model for other regions grappling with housing shortages and the detrimental effects of empty homes.
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