A New £11.7m package of measures to help councils track down empty homes across Greater Manchester has been announced which will give councils the tools to cut rising temporary accommodation bills
The Measures have been announced as new GMCA research shows the annual bill for temporary accommodation has risen to £77.5m, with almost 6,000 households living in temporary accommodation – including around 8,600 children
Rising demand, a shortage of affordable homes and escalating costs have left councils increasingly reliant on expensive alternatives that are often unsuitable and place a significant strain on local budgets.
There are estimated to be around 12,700 long-term empty homes across the city region
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:
“More than 8,000 children are among the families living in temporary accommodation in Greater Manchester and that is simply unacceptable. Homelessness tears young families from their communities and support networks, leaving them in environments that are often wholly unsuitable.
“This experience leaves lasting scars and that’s why we’re taking bold action. By investing an initial £11.7m to bring long-term empty homes back into use, we can offer better housing options, reduce the reliance on costly temporary accommodation, and ease the financial strain on local authorities.
“We’re also asking landlords who join this programme to sign up to the Good Landlord Charter in a move to drive up standards across rented properties. This bold and more co-ordinated approach to temporary housing reflects our wider mission to drive good growth that benefits every community in our city region.”
The programme will fund an expert team of 17 new Empty Homes officers across all ten councils, who will identify vacant properties, engage with owners, and support the refurbishment or leasing of homes.
Alongside this, a £10.6 million fund will enable councils to provide financial incentives, repair support and temporary leasing options for at least 400 empty homes, ensuring they can be quickly brought into use as temporary or settled accommodation for families.
The programme builds on successful local approaches. Housing officers at Wigan Council have brought around 1,000 empty properties back into use over five years, putting the crusade against empty homes at the heart of their work through a mix of incentives and enforcement.
