Major city council reveals consultation on empty homes and plans to help tenants downsize

Interested residents can stay in their local community to remain near family or friends, or can choose to move elsewhere in the city.

Around 20,000 households are currently on the housing register, with larger family homes representing some of the most significant wait times, while an estimated third of all social rented family homes are thought to be under-occupied.

Last year alone, 109 households received help in rightsizing, supported by a dedicated team of council officers. A further 432 households have expressed interest in taking part.

Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said: “Rightsizing could be a brilliant option for older people who are renting a council home [and] may have spare rooms they don’t need or would benefit from looking after a smaller property.

“Often a barrier to moving is the cost, but the council will take care of the financial burden to help a resident move into a new home.

“We think around a third of council tenants could be under-occupying their home – which means they could be paying more than they need to or they could be hit with the bedroom tax.

“While no one will be forced to move home if they don’t want to, rightsizing could be a really good option, along with a cash bonus, for our residents who would love a smaller, cheaper and more manageable home.”

At the same time, the City Council has started a public consultation on a new draft Empty Homes Strategy to gather feedback about the best way to bring empty homes into use and help meet demand for genuinely affordable housing.

There are currently around 1,500 homes in Manchester which have been empty for more than six months and are therefore subject to at least a 100% premium on top of the standard council tax charge.

The vast majority of long-term empty homes are privately owned and the reasons why they are not in use are varied and often complex.

There are also a notable number of empty homes where the owner has died, and work is now required to trace the next of kin in order to help to bring the home back into use.

The council will run a number of public sessions to discuss the plans before the consultation closes on Monday 2 March.

Mr White added: “The council has made great progress in bringing thousands of long-term empty homes back into use and that means thousands of Manchester people have a home to live in – [who] otherwise may be at risk of homelessness or struggling to find affordable accommodation.

“Despite this good track record, we know there are still a few thousand homes in the city that are not being used – and during a housing crisis this is a wasted resource at a time when we know families across the city are waiting for a home to live in.

“The vast majority of the owners of these homes are not willingly leaving these properties unused. There are often complex reasons why a home is empty – which is why we are developing our strategy to support owners to bring them back to market [and] provide housing for people who desperately need it.”