Created in April 2009, Central Bedfordshire Council is a unitary authority formed after the merger of Mid Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire District Councils and Bedfordshire County Council.
Along with nearly all local authorities across England, Central Bedfordshire Council had a growing number of long term empty properties that needed to be fully reviewed to ensure the accuracy of council tax records and reduce the number of vacant properties (to make more homes available for the most vulnerable; reduce the potential for antisocial behaviour that can often be associated with empty homes and, if possible, increase the funding available under the Government’s New Homes
Bonus scheme).
In 2022, for the second year running, Central Bedfordshire Council decided to take the Empty Homes Review Service from Capacitygrid.
The Solution:
Capacitygrid, by Liberata, has been providing local authorities with a comprehensive and market-leading
Empty Homes Review Service for over ten years. During that time, Capacitygrid’s review services have generated over £675M of additional revenue for the councils that we have worked with (and over 600 separate reviews have been completed). On average, a full review, will remove 23% from the list of long term empty properties – each house removed can be used to generate additional New Homes Bonus Funding.
The reviews are provided on a “risk and reward” basis – so there is no fee at all if we do not remove houses from the Council’s Long Term Empty list.
The Results:
2022:
• 265 properties removed from Long Term Empty list
• Removal rate of29% • Estimated additional New Homes Bonus funding of £511,597
2021:
• 306 properties removed from Long Term Empty list
• Removal rate of36% • Estimated additional New Homes Bonus funding of £575,305
“Our 2022 Empty Homes Review was another seamless process of working in partnership with a well-established, efficient and trust worthy supplier. The review not only generates income for the
Council but also ensures our Council Tax records are updated with accurate and timely information.”
Gary Muskett – Assistant Director: Revenues & Benefits
