- 12% of residents feel that they have experienced an impact that warranted them seeking support, whilst 30% did not seek any support
- 58% of residents report that they have not experienced any impacts of empty homes
- The most frequently mentioned point of contact for support is Portsmouth City Council (over 80% contacting via various channels/departments)
- Of those residents who did seek support, just over a quarter report no outcome or a negative outcome, almost a fifth report that they were told there was nothing they could do or that the issue was not their responsibility, and 11% report a positive or mainly positive outcome
- The most frequent reasons given for not seeking support are the belief that the Council would not be able or willing to help/take action (16%), or not knowing who or what approach to take (also 16%)
Support for residents
Summary
Did you seek any support to help address the impacts you experienced (e.g. contact the Council or owner)?
Base: All residents (635)
This chart shows the proportion of residents who have experienced impacts from empty homes: 12% sought support, 30% did not seek support, and 58% have not experienced any impacts.
Who did you contact for support?
Base: All residents who sought support (75)
| wdt_ID | Key themes | % |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PCC unspecified | 43 |
| 2 | PCC Housing | 19 |
| 3 | PCC Councillors | 13 |
| 4 | PCC other e.g. council tax, SEN early support team | 8 |
| 11 | Owner | 7 |
| 12 | Police | 4 |
| 13 | Vivid Housing | 3 |
| 14 | Other e.g. Colas, local MPs, fire service | 5 |
| 15 | No response/no valid response | 9 |
What was the outcome?
Base: All residents who sought support (75)
| wdt_ID | Key themes | % |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No outcome/negative outcome | 27 |
| 2 | Told there was nothing they could do/not their responsibility e.g. private owner, unwell owner, contact own home insurance | 19 |
| 3 | Positive/mainly positive outcome | 11 |
| 4 | No reply | 8 |
| 11 | Garden maintenance carried out | 5 |
| 12 | Didn't hear what the final outcome was | 4 |
| 13 | Financial concession e.g. council tax rebate/reduction | 4 |
| 14 | Buildings/repair work carried out | 3 |
| 15 | Still housed inappropriately | 3 |
| 16 | Other e.g. revoked management order, property reverting to former state, ongoing investigation, couldn't provide list of empty properties for risk of squatting, planning permission ongoing | 16 |
| 17 | No response/no valid response | 7 |
Why did you not seek support with the impacts you experienced regarding an empty property?
Base: All residents who did not seek support (190)
| wdt_ID | Key themes | % |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Didn’t think the Council would be able to help/or choose to take any action | 16 |
| 2 | Didn't know who to contact/what approach to take/that it was an option to report it | 16 |
| 3 | Not immediately impacted/none of my business | 12 |
| 4 | Didn't need to/not a specific property | 10 |
| 11 | Fear of reprisal/too much hassle | 5 |
| 12 | Assumed council already aware | 3 |
| 13 | Like it being empty e.g. quieter, more parking spaces, no undesirables living there | 2 |
| 14 | Dealt with it themselves | 2 |
| 15 | No contact details for the owner | 2 |
| 16 | Knew the owner/former resident | 1 |
| 17 | Other e.g. had found somewhere else to live, too complicated, on the market now, being renovated, new owner in situ, police dealing with it | 7 |
| 18 | Na/no comment | 28 |
