The council is appealing to people who own empty homes to bring them back to use as rented accommodation.
Worcester City Council’s plea comes as part of its ongoing initiative offering a council tax premium to discourage people from letting homes sit empty for two years or longer.
The announcement coincides with National Empty Homes Week, a nationwide campaign highlighting the work accomplished by councils and communities.
The week is dedicated to discussing strategies to bring vacant homes back into use and take action against neglected unoccupied properties impacting neighborhoods negatively.
In an example of such actions, the council has recently enforced the sale of a neglected Chestnut Walk property.
Having been vacant for over a decade, the former residence was in substantial disrepair, featuring overgrown vegetation, a hole in the roof, and alleged vermin issues.
Following the landlord’s failure to comply with a 2019 formal notice for repairs and cleaning, the council performed the necessary maintenance and put a land charge on the property to reclaim the costs.