Council working to 'get to grips' with empty properties

Still a significant number of homes vacant for many years

- By DALE SPRIDGEON

THE number of empty houses is a UK-wide 'scandal' when so many people are homeless these comments came as Cyngor Gwynedd's care scrutiny committee was discussing empty homes in the county.

Housing cabinet member, Cllr Paul Rawlinson was updating the committee on the council's efforts to return empty properties back into use, during the meeting.

Cllr Rawlinson said the council was working to 'get to grips' with empty properties, which were a waste of resources.

It was 'a priority' for the council and part of its efforts to solve the county’s 'housing crisis'.

In Gwynedd, there are now 1,306 empty properties, the meeting heard. The number had reduced since the introduction of the council’s Housing Action Plan.

Some 299 empty properties had been brought back into use, exceeding the council's own target of 282.