Empty Homes Service

The Empty Homes Service is a partnership, established in 1996 in Exeter, between Exeter City Council and seven housing associations. They were:

  • Spectrum/Signpost
  • Cornerstone
  • Sovereign Housing
  • Magna Housing
  • TORHomes
  • Sarsen Housing Association
  • Devon & Cornwall Housing Association

2003 saw the expansion to South East Devon Empty Homes Initiative (SEDEHI), a cross-boundary partnership now renamed The Empty Homes Partnership including Mid Devon District Council, East Devon District Council, and Teignbridge District Council.

The initiative involves developing measures to tackle empty homes. We work in partnership with any organisation or individual who can help. The Empty Homes Service helps owners who have empty property. We are committed to continuing improvement of the service offered and welcome any comments feedback or suggestions.

The Empty Homes team works extensively in the private housing market but has also had significant success with converting empty/under used commercial space into dwellings. For instance, many of the longer term empty office blocks in Exeter have now been dealt with (e.g. Concord House, Musgrove House and Sidwell House).

The aims are to prevent homes/buildings standing empty or becoming empty and to preserve and improve the local housing stock. The service offers owners of the empty, residential properties information about leasing schemes, private renting, selling to housing associations, grants etc, and give advice to help bring the property back into use.

The Empty Homes Service has established itself as a centre of excellence for empty homes practice and is a National Award winner.

Contact East Devon Empty Homes Service at:
PO Box 133
Exeter
EX1 1ZD

You can telephone the Empty Homes Team between 9am and 5pm on 0845 111 0278 (24 hour answer machine service).
Email: emptyhomes@eastdevon.gov.uk
Fax: (01392) 265859

Page last updated on 7 July 2009