Insurance News Archive
Incentives are needed to avoid empty homes according to charity
Empty homes, the independent empty property charity, has urged authorities to provide ‘disincentives’ to property owners who leave their property vacant.
Empty properties still require expense commercial property insurance but the charity as called on further measures to make owners and landlords think twice about leaving properties empty. He believes there should not only be disincentives for leaving property empty, but incentives for getting property back into use again.
The calls come after the Scottish government announced details of its plan to grant councils powers to tax empty houses in an attempt to raise money to build new affordable properties.
David Ireland, chief executive at Empty Homes, said: "[The tax] introduces a disincentive for leaving the property empty which is a good thing. I like what is happening in South Ayrshire where they are introducing a loan sum. If you have got that, then you have got an incentive and a disincentive.”
Estimates put the potential money available via the scheme at around £30 million.
By Michael Brown
21 Oct 2011
