In the last financial year 2021/2022 The Empty Property Team at Birmingham City Council brought 267  homes back into residential use. From April 2022 to January  2023 the team brought an additional 184 homes back into use.  This has been achieved through collaborative work with owners and the use of a variety of enforcement measures.

During this National Empty Homes Week, the Empty Property Team will be using their twitter account @bccemptyhomes and other social media to highlight the work they carry out.  There will be examples of our enforcement work to improve the exterior of properties following a statutory notice to do the work having expired. We will also share examples of long-term empty properties which we have now been returned back into residential use through our intervention and with the co-operation of owners.

If anyone wishes to report an empty property to the team, they can direct message @bccemptyhomes or email  emptyproperty@birmingham.gov.uk or telephone 0121 303 7978

Councillor Sharon Thompson, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said “The work carried out by the Empty Property Team in bringing houses back into use is vital to the City Council’s aims to maintain sustainable communities and neighbourhoods. The homes that are brought back are often real neighbourhood eyesores as they have usually been left empty for years. The work of the team also has the additional benefit of providing much needed housing to meet the needs of our citizens.”