Number of Long-Term Empty Homes in Rhondda Cynon Taf Reduced by Over 860 in a Decade

The number of homes that have been empty for six months or more in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) has reduced by more than 860 in almost a decade.
A council report says the number of properties empty for six months or more across RCT has reduced from 3,556 in April 2017 to 2,687 in April 2026 which represents a reduction of 869 empty homes.
Council tax records from April 2017 revealed there were 3,556 private
sector homes that had been empty for six months or more in RCT which was 3.8% of Rhondda Cynon Taf’s private housing (owner-occupied and private rented) stock. The average for Wales in 2017-18 was 2.4%.
To address this the council’s cabinet has approved two successive empty homes strategies in 2018 and in 2022  designed to reduce the number of empty homes across Rhondda Cynon Taf.
After a consultation the council also introduced council tax premiums on long-term empty properties and second homes.
The premium for long-term empty properties was implemented from April 2023 followed by the introduction of a premium for second homes from April 2024.
A council report says these measures have acted as a strong incentive for property owners to take action and engage with the council contributing to a 25% reduction in long term vacant properties.
Council tax records from April 2026 show there are now 2,687 private
sector homes that have been empty for six months or more which is a reduction of 869 empty homes since the introduction of the council’s empty
homes strategies.
The figures show there have been 1,930 interventions resulting in 725 properties being brought back into use.
The council has used the Welsh Government’s Houses into Homes loan scheme, which has provided £1.85m in loans and funding to private owners bringing in a total investment of £2.21m in private housing stock while
also supporting local supply chains and sustaining employment within the
local labour market.
The report says the council has led the delivery of the Welsh Government Valleys Taskforce Empty Homes Grant Scheme, securing funding to bring 263
empty homes back into use, representing a spend of £4.6m across
Rhondda Cynon Taf.
It has also led the delivery of the Welsh Government National Empty Homes Grant Scheme, which has enabled 121 empty homes to be brought back into use in RCT alone, representing a grant spend of £2.8m which has leveraged
a total investment of £3.9m in private housing stock while also supporting
local supply chains and sustaining employment within the local labour
market, the report says.
The council has worked in partnership with registered social landlords to get £7m of Welsh Government Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme funding enabling empty properties to be brought back into use and contributing to a reduction in the number of households in temporary accommodation or at risk of homelessness.
The report mentions the Homestep Plus scheme in partnership with a registered social landlord which supports 24 first-time buyers to purchase a
property and bring 24 empty homes back into use.
And the council is developing an in-house RCT social lettings agency which manages and lets 54 private rented properties which were previously empty on behalf of private landlords to those that are currently in temporary accommodation.
The council is carrying out a six week public consultation on the proposed RCT Empty Homes Strategy (2026-31). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​