To achieve the objectives of the strategy, Portsmouth City Council suggests a combination of informal and formal interventions. These actions are designed to reflect the Council’s strategic approach.
The table below shows each type of intervention:
| wdt_ID | Type of Intervention | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Early Identification and Contact | The Council identifies properties that have been empty for six months or more and initiates contact with owners. |
| 3 | Advice and Support | Owners receive tailored advice on selling, renting, or refurbishing their property. Information is provided on local schemes and incentives, such as reduced VAT for long-term empty homes. |
| 12 | Escalating Informal Engagement | If initial contact is unsuccessful, the Council escalates communication and may conduct in-person visits to understand the owner's situation and offer further support. |
| 13 | Formal Enforcement | Where a property poses a hazard or persistent issue, the Council may use legal powers to compel action. This is usually pursued when informal efforts fail. |
| 14 | Monitoring and Evaluation | The Council tracks data on empty properties, interventions, and outcomes to measure the strategy’s success and guide future actions. |
| 15 | Partnership Working | The Council collaborates with internal departments and external partners (e.g. Empty Homes Network, tracing agents) to identify owners and bring homes back into use and leverage resources and expertise across various stakeholders |
