Empty homes in Woking

Introduction

This page provides useful information about what the Council is doing to reduce the number of empty homes in the Borough as well as how to report an empty home and what to do if you are the owner of an empty home.

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What is the Council doing to reduce the number of empty homes in Woking?

Providing decent and affordable housing is the Council's top priority.

Tackling empty properties and bringing them back into use not only helps to meet housing need in the Borough, but it also provides an environmental benefit for local communities. Empty properties can become neglected and gardens can become overgrown, both of which can lead to potential health hazards.

The Council aims to work with owners of empty properties to help them bring them back into use. Grants may be available to help towards renovation on the condition that the property is leased to the Council for a minimum of two years and possibly more depending on the size of the grant.

We can provide an owner with tenants and rental income through our Private Rented Scheme (PRS) and Private Sector Leasing Scheme (PSL). We hold a list of people who are interested in purchasing an empty or run down property.

If owners will not positively engage with us about their empty property, we may also have the powers to carry out repair work on the property or force the sale of the property.

Woking Borough Council is working in partnership with a number of other local authorities in Surrey and Hampshire as part of the Surrey & Hampshire Improvement Partnership on tackling empty properties.  The partnership was set up following a successful funding bid from the Regional Housing Board and the Every Home Counts website was launched in December 2008.  The objective of this website is to increase awareness surrounding empty properties and the problems that empty properties can cause to the wider community and to reduce the numbers of empty properties by bringing them back into use.  Empty properties can also be reported through through the website.

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An example of the Council bringing an empty property back into use

A property in Pyrford, which had been empty for 12 years, was successfully sold at auction after Woking Borough Council took action under the Law of Property Act 1925.

The three-bedroom house was privately owned, but after the occupiers passed away, the property had no overall beneficiary. This meant that the house was vacant and, over the years, it became run-down and neglected.

Staff from across the Council, including the Housing, Legal, Environmental Health and Planning Enforcement teams, successfully worked together with Councillors to bring about the enforced sale.

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How do I report an empty property to the Council?

If you know of an empty property in the Borough, particularly one that has been empty for a long time, please contact the Housing Enabling team by email or by phone on 01483 743836.

 Alternatively, you can access the Every Home Counts website and report an empty property through an e-form

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I have an empty property, what can the Council do for me?

The Council's Private Sector Leasing scheme explains how you can help us bring your empty home back into use.

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Contact us

If you would like more information about empty homes in Woking, please contact the Housing Enabling team on 01483 743836 or email housingenabling@woking.gov.uk