Council continues to reduce empty properties in Carmarthenshire

Carmarthenshire County Council is continuing to bring more empty homes back into use throughout the county with the assistance of the Empty Properties Framework.

Introduced in 2023, the Framework combines enforcement, council tax premiums and support to bring empty properties back into use with the aim of:

• Reducing the number of long-term empty homes in the county
• Increasing the supply of affordable housing to meet demand
• Tackling issues relating to property nuisance, blight and the effect this has on communities

The Council is committed to working with owners of empty properties by providing advice to help bring properties back into use and offer financial assistance if applicable (subject to eligibility).

Where property ownership is known and owners or estate executors are unwilling to co-operate, enforcement action can be undertaken to reduce any risk and return the property to use.

The introduction of council tax premiums for long term empty homes was also introduced in April 2024, with all homes empty for 12 months and longer, along with the removal of a 50% discount awarded to long term empty houses and full council tax charges applied to houses empty longer than six months.

The support provided by the Council’s Empty Properties Team is highlighted in this recent case study:

A historically empty property located in Llanelli town centre was purchased by new owners who enquired about the Council’s Houses to Homes loan scheme in July 2022. The property was inspected by an Empty Homes Advisor to assess the condition of the property and to discuss the options available.

Following this, a full Houses to Homes application was received and formal approval was issued. Renovation works to the property are currently ongoing, after which the property will be made available for the rental market.

Cllr Linda Davies Evans, Cabinet Member for Homes said: “We are continuing to see the benefits of the Empty Properties Framework which supports the excellent work of our Empty Properties Advisors, enabling us to try and reduce the number of long-term empty properties in the county.”

“I would encourage anyone who owns an empty property in Carmarthenshire to get in touch with the team or to visit the Council’s website to learn more about the wide range of support available to help bring these empty properties back into use.”

For more information on the Houses to Homes loan scheme and the other support available to owners of empty properties visit the Council’s website.