One of Thanet’s most well known eyesores, that has been in disrepair for over 20 years, has been brought into use as affordable housing, after more than a year’s worth of work to convert it. The property at 77 Eastern Esplanade has been a key target of Thanet District Council’s empty properties campaign in recent years, after it became a major problem with serious structural defects. Protective scaffolding had to be erected around the property to protect the public from falling masonry. Two dangerous chimney stacks that were leaning precariously had to be demolished.
The owner had died some time before and ownership had passed to various family members throughout Saudi Arabia. Tracing the beneficiaries became a major task, involving a London solicitor, but after failing to track them down, the council was left to foot the bill for the work carried out.
This was then registered as charges against the property at the Land Registry, giving the council the opportunity to use a law dating back over 80 years, thought to be the first time it had been used in Kent.
Supported by the No Use Empty campaign, a sale was enforced on the property in April 2007. Since then, Town & Country Housing Group, one of the council’s preferred affordable housing partners, has been working to bring the property back into use.
They have been refurbishing the four one and two bedroom flats, which will then be offered on a shared ownership basis. This allows people on a low income to own part of the equity of the property and acquire more at a later stage when they can afford to, thereby helping them on to the property ladder. They pay rent on the share of the property they do not own.
When work started, the property was boarded up, with windows missing and major infestation by pigeons in the upper floors. Due to missing slates from the roof, water had been pouring through the property for a number of years, causing serious decay, including dry and wet rot.
Cllr. Zita Wiltshire, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “It’s wonderful to see this beautiful seaside property finally back in use, after so much hard work from the council and our partners over the last couple of years. This case highlights the obstacles that we have when it comes to tackling the problem of empty properties. It’s all too easy for people to look at derelict buildings and wonder why nothing appears to be happening for so long, but all too often, our officers have to deal with complex problems before work can finally get underway. Here, in just over a year, Town and Country Housing have done a superb job in renovating what was a dangerous and damaged building into homes that can offer a first step on the property ladder for local people.”
Tim Warren, Town & Country’s new business manager, said: “This really has been quite a remarkable transformation. The property was an absolute blot on the landscape, but now offers wonderful homes, with sea views, at affordable prices.”
The flats range in price from £100,000 to £140,000. Purchasers can buy as little as a 25% share and pay a rent of 2.7% on the remaining portion.
Anyone wishing to find out more about shared ownership in Thanet should contact the Council’s Housing Options team on 01843 577277.