Nearly 3,000 homes sit empty in Rotherham as council works to bring some back into use
Rotherham is facing growing pressure on housing, with more than 7,000 people on the council’s waiting list for a hom, but across the borough, empty houses that have stood unused for years are being brought back into use, offering boost to the area’s housing supply.
During empty homes week, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is highlighting how it is working with private property owners and landlords to renovate vacant homes and return them to the market.
One example can be found on The Square in Wales, where property owner Simon Beech has spent the past few years restoring a long-empty building.
Bought in 2022, the property has been stripped back to its brickwork and completely renovated.
“It’s been completely stripped out,” he said.
“All the walls have been back to brick, thermally insulated, fully rewired. There are new kitchens, new bathrooms and new ceilings.”
Once completed, the building will provide four flats, providing much-needed new homes in the centre of the village.
The work is supported by the council’s empty homes officer Tania McGee, who works directly with owners of vacant properties to help bring them back into use.
She said the work plays an important role in addressing housing pressures across the borough.
“We’ve got over 7,000 people on the waiting list alone,” she said.
“Most of the homes we bring back are privately owned so they don’t necessarily go to people on our housing list, but overall it still increases the number of homes available.”
Nearly 3,000 privately owned homes stood empty across Rotherham last year, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the borough’s housing market.
During the last financial year alone, Rotherham Council’s empty homes team helped return 36 privately owned properties to use, without spending any council budget.
Paul Benson, the council’s private sector housing manager, said demand for housing remained high, particularly for smaller properties.
“There’s a huge need across the borough for one- and two-bedroom flats,” he said.
While the council has retained around 20,000 council houses, he said housing supply had been reduced over time through the Right to Buy scheme.
The authority is currently building 1,000 new council homes by 2027, but empty properties can also help increase the available housing supply.
Leaving homes empty can also affect the surrounding area.
Mr Benson said once investment begins in a neglected property it can encourage others to improve their homes.
“Once people start investing in a property, neighbours start to see that investment and start to feel good about the area,” he said.
“It lifts people’s expectations about the environment and the community.”
However, bringing empty homes back into use is not always straightforward.
Ms McGee said properties often remain empty for complex reasons, including emotional ties following bereavement.
“There are numerous reasons why people keep hold of empty properties,” she said. “Sometimes it’s emotional, someone has passed away and the owner just isn’t ready to deal with it.”
Despite the challenges, council officers say even a small number of homes being restored can make a difference.
With 2,903 privately owned properties recorded as empty in Rotherham last year, they hope more owners will consider bringing vacant homes back into use.
“Ideally we want to see more properties of all tenures available, good quality homes that are affordable,” Mr Benson said.
To find out more, or report an empty home, contact RMBC via the council website