Inventing our future Collective action for a sustainable economy

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6.53 The EERA/RHB will encourage the development of Empty Homes Charters and may
consider innovative schemes to bring empty homes back into use. These should be linked
to performance on Best Value Performance Indicator 64.
Figure 7. Policy framework: quality homes and environments
Policy framework: quality homes and environments
Quality standards Quality Criteria developed by EEDA/CABE’s Quality Design
Manager will be disseminated through the RHDG.
Standards should be considered as an integral part of the
economics of scheme/site development, where higher standards
are achieved by lowering the land price and/or improving
efficiency, productivity and design.
Where local authorities are putting in their own resources,
schemes should adhere to the same standards as if public subsidy
were being made available.
Public sector
Decent Homes
Local Authorities and housing associations should ensure that their
work on options appraisals and asset management produce
solutions that are appropriate to their area and client groups to
meet the Decent Homes Standard, and implement them according
to the timetable.
Emphasis will be placed on supporting schemes which reduce
the proportion of vulnerable people living in non-decent housing
within the private sector, and areas where there is a clear
appreciation of local conditions, both in terms of the built
environment and social factors. Innovation and the use of interestfree
loans and equity-release schemes will be encouraged. RHDG
will work with EEDA to develop more manageable equity release
programmes.
The 2001 English House Condition Survey of Private Landlords
highlights the rise in lettings by private individuals and the need
for health and safety information from local authorities. There may
be a co-ordinating role for the RHDG with ARLA or other private
landlord representatives.
Knowledge of private sector stock condition is essential. It is
important to review the coverage of private sector stock condition
surveys carried out by local authorities and share regional
knowledge and good practice. Additionally, when it is acquired,
GO-East will provide modelled data for the Region developed by
ODPM as a targeting tool.
Empty homes Local housing authorities should maintain an up-to-date register
of empty homes, and develop an active approach to bringing
empty homes back into use that includes working with housing
associations with specialist knowledge, use of empty homes
management orders and compulsory purchase, and developing
empty homes charters to raise awareness of the issue. Any
additional income from council tax changes on empty homes
should be considered for recycling to bring more empty homes
into use. Sub-regional/cross boundary working on empty homes
should be encouraged where possible.
Greenspace Housing providers should ensure that the use of greenspace is
maximised in developments to improve ‘liveability‘.