Harlow Council questioned over number of long term empty council properties across town

News / Thu 14th Nov 2024 at 11:53am

THE chair of the Harlow Alliance Party has questioned Harlow Council over how many long term empty homes there are in Harlow?

His question was answered by the portfolio holder for Housing, cllr David Carter.

Councillor Carter told Mr Taylor that there are 26 voids that have been empty for more than six months but less than a year.

The full exchange is below.

11 Comments for Harlow Council questioned over number of long term empty council properties across town:

View from Afar

2024-11-14 13:41:04

Is this at odds with what David Carter said on 3rd November?

Nicholas Taylor

2024-11-14 13:57:02

As I did on the night, I would point out that my question made no reference to council owned homes, it was in fact reffering to how many homes in the town as a whole are empty. It was recently reported that nearly 700,000 homes across the country are empty, something of a scandal when so many people are homeless. Many councils take action to get vacant properties occupied again, my supplementary question would have been to see if HDC did any such work. In many parts of the country foreign investors buy up homes, indeed whole flat blocks and leave them empty as an invesstment, something the new Labour Government should tackle.

Brian wilson

2024-11-14 21:06:46

You know why theses property's are empty they are getting them ready for all the illegal immigrates they are not going to give them to Harlow people any way you know that, my son was on the council list he's know 42

Tina james

2024-11-14 21:47:42

It is ridiculous that those houses/flats have been empty that amount of time! There is no need for it, you should have a voids team who go in and sort out what needs to be done then hand it back to housing officers to allocate! It’s not that hard!

Michelle koubaa

2024-11-15 02:03:38

I'm physically disabled and had to come to Harlow 4 years ago due to needing care from my relatives here . I'm.stuck in an upper floor room in a private rental HMO with access issues as iv regressed and the council who initially told me I'd to.wait 4 years now struck me off the list due to their policy changes . Iv had both social services and Occupational therapy assessment reports saying the property is totally unsuitable but still to no avail yet many able bodied , high earners from other countries are in social housing in Harlow so why turn your back on the most vulnerable.

Stuart

2024-11-15 10:06:34

When are residents going to move in to the new Burnt Mill apartments? Seems like they've been empty for a long time!

Tim Ward

2024-11-15 14:03:00

The burnt mill apartments I remember the council made such a big thing about buying them and not letting one of the London Boroughs getting them and yet they still sit empty myself and my disabled wife privately rent when we tried to get on council list we were told no point in you're situation you could be waiting 10 20 30 years for a bedsit and I've been a harlow resident now for 62 years now renting but now having to private rent for last 12 years because I divorced my first wife and would of been homeless otherwise

Rose

2024-11-15 21:00:10

Is not only empty shop,MARKET HOUSE in Harlow town centre looks so bad,there is few empty shop in market house itself and above the shop which suppose to be built by now,is empty and looks awful,do something about that property as its go just one owner.

Rose

2024-11-15 21:00:59

Is not only empty shop,MARKET HOUSE in Harlow town centre looks so bad, there is few empty shop in market house itself and above the shop which suppose to be built by now,is empty and looks awful,do something about that property as its go just one owner.

Andrew Holmes

2024-11-16 07:42:39

When I left the Army (2001), I was told I'd intentionally made myself unemployed and homeless "and they were under no obligation to help me" I would be put on the list but I would have a wait of up to 7 years, that was the last time I had contact...... Nice to see things have changed, oh they haven't!