- Agreement that empty properties attract anti-social behaviour, crime and illegal occupants is the most frequent reason given in support of Objective 2
- In similar themes, vermin, rubbish, overgrown gardens and general disrepair are also frequently mentioned
- Those disagreeing with Objective 2 feel that minimal environmental impact is caused by empty homes and that other things are more important to focus on or contribute more to blocking properties becoming available
Objective 2: Reasons for agreement or disagreement
Summary
Why do you agree with objective 2?
Base: All those who agree or strongly agree with objective 2 (495)
| wdt_ID | Key themes | % |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Empty properties attract ASB/crime and illegal occupants e.g. squatters, fly tipping, drug use, vandalism | 23 |
| 3 | Vermin/wildlife/overgrown gardens/rubbish cause issues in empty properties | 19 |
| 12 | Empty properties often fall into disrepair and look unsightly/cause problems for neighbouring properties | 18 |
| 13 | Empty homes can degrade a community/neighbourhood e.g. depress house prices, feeling unsafe | 11 |
| 14 | Common sense/right thing to do | 10 |
| 15 | Provide homes for those in need | 4 |
| 16 | Things can be harder/more expensive to fix if left too long | 4 |
| 17 | Good to focus on the environment/more sustainable than building new homes | 2 |
| 18 | Other things are more important/not experienced any issues of this type | 2 |
| 19 | Owners should be made to keep their properties in good order | 1 |
| 20 | Other e.g. not easy to implement, lack of security at void commercial sites is a problem, council should stay out of things unless empty property is detrimental to the neighbourhood | 3 |
| 21 | Na/no comment | 35 |
Why do you disagree with objective 2?
Base: All those who disagree or strongly disagree with objective 2 (55)
| wdt_ID | Key themes | % |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minimal envrionmental impact caused by empty homes | 27 |
| 3 | Other things are more important to focus on than environmental e.g. drugs, crime, low income, high taxation, root causes of housing issues | 16 |
| 12 | Property owner's choice/nothing to do with the council | 11 |
| 13 | Better empty than undesirable tenants e.g. HMOs, immigrants | 9 |
| 14 | Occupied homes cause just as many environmental problems | 4 |
| 15 | Owners responsibility to address any issues themselves | 4 |
| 16 | Other e.g. could cause conflict and negative outcome, untidy garden is good for wildlife, don’t let properties be empty in the first place | 9 |
| 17 | Na/no comment | 31 |
