Written question WQ83176

Local authorities have a broad range of statutory powers they can use to deal with properties that are in a poor condition or are having a detrimental impact on their community. The fact that the owner may be absent or cannot be found does not preclude the relevant local authority from taking appropriate and proportionate enforcement action.

Through our Transforming Towns programme we have made £15.2m available to local authorities to help tackle empty and dilapidated buildings in town centres through enforcement.

All local authorities in Wales have received specialist enforcement training from a leading industry expert on tackling long-term empty commercial and residential properties. Each Local Authority has been asked to prepare an action plan, identifying priority problem properties in their area. The industry expert provides a floating resource and support to all local authorities in Wales to assist them in dealing with these and many other difficult cases.

In order to incentivise action on empty properties Welsh Government has previously allocated:

• over £58m to local authorities for them to provide/use interest free loans to redevelop or improve empty properties in town centres

• recyclable funding of over £42m to local authorities which can be used to provide interest free loans to help landlords and others with the costs of bringing empty houses back into use.

Local authorities also have the ability to charge an additional 100% empty homes premium on homes that have been empty for more than 12 months and on second homes. The additional income secured can be used to support enforcement work, if it is a priority for the local authority.