Bolton at Home has explained how it is working to reduce the number of empty homes it has and explains why they sometimes need to sell some. This comes after residents have expressed their concerns over the sale of properties and empty homes. Last month a number of Bolton at Home properties went up for sale.
The housing association said it manages around 19,000 homes and other buildings, many of which were built in the 1950s and updating them can be costly. Speaking about the reasons behind the empty homes and why they sell properties sometimes by auction , a spokesperson for Bolton at Home said: “We work to maintain, improve, and build homes, with a focus on refurbishing and reletting empty homes as quickly as possible. However, there are instances when homes remain vacant longer due to significant repair needs.
“When a tenant moves out, we assess the property and carry out any necessary repairs. If a home requires extensive work or updates to meet current standards, it may stay vacant for a longer period. This process sometimes involves specialist surveyors and contractors.
“Each year, we refurbish approximately 1,000 vacant homes. We’re continually working to reduce the number of empty properties and, to support this, we’ve expanded our team and increased our investment in our home improvement programme. Read more of our top stories here: Family home in The Haulgh could be turned into guest house Mansell Building Solutions appeals against council enforcement noti.