Refurbished properties to provide local homes

Almost 50 empty homes have been refurbished and will be re-let to local people as part of an initiative to re-use empty properties across the city.

Leeds City Council has been working with the three arm’s length management organisations (ALMOs), which manage the housing stock for the council, to make sure empty houses are brought back into use.

Over a period of three years, 46 council owned houses that were previously leased out to other housing associations have been refurbished to the decent homes standards and are now being rented out to people from the Leeds Homes Register.

Leeds City Council’s executive member with responsibility for neighbourhoods, housing and regeneration, Peter Gruen, said: “This has been a very effective scheme, and has really helped us reduce the amount of overcrowding in some areas.

“We have been working hard so that families can move into houses that better meet their needs than any where else in the city. This is another great example of how a council service is working towards the benefits of local people in the city.”

Coun Gruen added: “The average cost of refurbishment has been around £15,000 per house, which has been met from the council’s major repairs allowance, and I am pleased that this work is continuing.

“Further council owned empty houses are being assessed for refurbishment in the coming year.”

Leeds City Council own approximately 58,000 houses, the majority of which are on traditional estates.

They are managed by Aire Valley Homes, East North East Homes, West North West Homes and Belle Isle Tenant Management Organisation.

Approximately 350 other houses owned by the council and located across the city are leased out to housing associations.