As this is Empty Homes Week, Oxford City Council is calling on owners of empty homes to help ease Oxford’s housing crisis by bringing them back into use.
An empty home is one that is privately owned and has been unoccupied for more than six months. According to council tax records, there are currently around 695 empty homes in Oxford.
Most of these (432, or 62%) have been empty for less than two years and 108 (16%) have been empty for between two and five years.
Another 31 homes (4%) have been empty for between five and ten years, with 10 homes (1%) empty for 10 years or more.
The Council charges a council tax premium ranging between 100% and 300% on homes empty for more than two years, depending on how they have been unoccupied.
There are a further 114 empty homes (19%) exempt from higher council tax because their owner died more than a year ago.
The Council works with executors and owners and its preferred approach is to engage with and encourage them to bring their empty homes back into use. For the most part, this happens without needing further intervention.
The Council has helped bring 35 empty homes back into use in 2023/24 due to its work with owners and executors.
People who are aware of an empty home can contact the Council’s Empty Property Officer on 01865 252280 or report it on the council website.
Comment
“Everyone who rents privately in Oxford knows how hard it can be to find somewhere to live and how expensive it is. We can’t afford to have so many empty homes and we want them brought back into use.”
“We are in regular contact with owners and executors to understand their needs and help if needed. Most owners intend to bring their empty homes back into use anyway - our intervention can help resolve any issues and accelerate this process. If you’d like help or advice on bringing an empty home back into use, please get in touch.”
Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing
National Empty Homes Week runs from 4 March to 10 March. For more information visit the Action on Empty Homes website.
This article was amended on 4 March 2024 to clarify that additonal council tax can be levied on homes empty for more than two years.
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