Rotherham Council bids to cut housing wait

ROTHERHAM Borough Council is aiming to slash the number of council homes vacant for more than four months by two-thirds.

The authority wants to make the system more efficient by cutting the turnaround time between tenants.

There are currently 76 properties which have been vacant for more than 16 weeks, but the council has set a target of 25 by next March.

A review last year set out seven recommendations to help.

These included financial incentives to encourage previous residents to leave properties in good condition.

If this “fond farewell” scheme saves more money than it costs, it will be extended.

It was agreed that 2010 Rotherham would work more closely with the council, and specifically councillors who will report regularly about vacant houses in their wards.

A report to a council committee said: “Rotherham’s new emerging housing strategy emphasises the importance of making the best use of our existing social rented homes, which includes the high performance on turnaround times.”