Owners of long-term empty homes are being encouraged to contact Peterborough City Council during National Empty Homes Week which takes place from 26th November until 2nd December.

The event is organised by the charity EmptyHomes to highlight the waste caused by empty properties nationwide, but to also highlight the new initiatives and options available for owners of these properties.

With empty homes attracting crime and anti-social behaviour and being a waste of a property, the city council is urging owners to come forward and receive advice on how to tackle these issues.

In Peterborough, there are currently 382 long-term empty properties, with more than 100 of those empty for over two years. Although the figures show a significant reduction in the recent past, owners are being urged to do more to get their properties into use to meet the ever increasing demand for homes in the city.

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Councillor Peter Hiller, Cabinet Member for Housing, Neighbourhoods and Planning, said: "The benefits of bringing back into use a property which has been a blight on a neighbourhood are immeasurable. Not only is it helping to improve the look and feel of a community, but it is also freeing up another home for a family in housing need in the city.

"Just recently we have seen three of the worst cases of empty homes ever seen in the city brought back into use following assistance from our Empty Homes Officer. For a number of years these properties were a blight on the community, often attracting anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping, squatting and theft.

"These properties are now back on the market which is great news. However, we know there are many more properties which would benefit from similar investment. I would urge people to come forward and talk to us if they're the owner of an empty property and need support or a resident who lives near to one."

(CD/GK)