Some also argue that this can disincentive councils from addressing the root problem, as empty homes bring them more income through the premium tax rates.
“We’re now in a position where councils are actually saying, ‘Well, we’re being rewarded for homes being left empty longer,'” says Adam Cliff, policy lead at the Empty Homes Network.
Councils do also have the power to take legal action against owners of empty homes, but this can be risky, time-consuming and costly.
And while loans and grants can be used to target about 10-20% of long-term empty homes, Mr Cliff estimates, you would need to make use of other processes to get the majority of them back into use, he says.
This was the experience of Kent County Council, which says only 18% of its LTEs that were brought back into use did so after interest-free loans were issued. In fact 61% did so after advice was offered to owners around the likes of tax and VAT, raising finance and planning.
“If a council has 2,000 empty homes,” Mr Cliff says, “they need 2,000 different solutions.”