May 22, 2019 12.32 pm This story is over 64 months old

More than 400 homes sitting empty in Lincoln

The council say the issue is a “priority”
The City of Lincoln Council is focusing on the Sincil Bank area as part of its Empty Homes Strategy.

The number of homes sat empty in Lincoln increased in 2018, but the city council said bringing them back into use is a “priority”.

According to City of Lincoln Council figures, the number of private homes that were empty as of January 2019 was 430.

Around 419 properties were empty across the city at the same time last year.

Officials at the city council said bringing homes back into use is at the top of the council’s agenda, particularly in the Sincil Bank area.

430 homes were sat empty as of January 2019, according to City of Lincoln Council figures.

Stewart James, empty property officer at the authority, said the city has seen an increase in the number of homes empty for between six and 24 months.

He added the rise was part of a national trend across the country.

Bringing empty homes back into use

In March 2018, the council adopted an empty homes strategy aimed at tackling the issue.

Under the scheme, the authority set a target of bringing 50 homes back into use each year.

A total of 41 homes were refurbished in 2018.

An example of a house brought back into use by the city council in the Sincil Bank area.

The council has an aspiration to have no residential property empty for more than two years without clear plans to bring it back to use.

As part of the strategy, the authority has targeted Sincil Bank due to the effect empty properties have on the street scene, anti-social behaviour and “overall feeling of neglect”.

Currently, 19 homes in the area have been empty for four years or more but the authority said the figure is growing year on year.

Mr James said the council will continue to step in to reduce the number of properties sat empty.

“The council continues to prioritise the empty homes project and its work in returning empty homes back into use,” he said.

“By being able to review and adapt its strategy as the housing market change, it allows the authority to meet the challenge of reducing the number of empty homes in its district.”

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