Bringing homes back to life

Regenda Neighbourhood Officer, Sarah Collins with Salma Eshan, new resident of 18 Dover Street

Councils across the country have identified thousands of empty homes at a time when housing waiting lists are growing. Resolving this issue has now become a top priority.

The Regenda Housing Group is being proactive in tackling this issue in its Oldham and Rochdale neighbourhoods by purchasing these empty properties from private landlords and carrying out full refurbishments.

Bringing these properties back into use provides much needed family housing.

Working in partnership with both Oldham and Rochdale Borough Councils’ Empty Properties Teams, Regenda is helping to reduce the number of empty homes which frequently cause concern for local residents, become a drain on resources or can be potentially dangerous and unsafe.

The purchase and refurbishment of these properties will help to improve neighbourhoods in these areas by reducing anti-social behaviour, increasing property values, preventing blight, providing more choice of affordable housing and improving the standard of housing available.

Ms Salma Eshan of 18 Dover Street, Rochdale is one such happy resident; having recently moved into the previously unused property. Refurbishment work, carried out by Regenda, included the installation of a brand new kitchen and bathroom and complete replastering and decoration to the ground floor.

Mrs Eshan explained: “This is my first home I am very fortunate to be offered this property, the property was decorated throughout and Regenda have provided the cooker, washer and fridge freezer which have been gifted to me. I am really grateful to Regenda for having the appliances installed as this has given me the opportunity to furnish and carpet my house and I’ve added other essential items to make my house a home for me and my baby”.

Paul Dixon, previous owner of 18 Dover Street added; “My experience of working with Rochdale Housing Initiative and Regenda was nothing but positive."

Mark Edwards, Project Officer at Rochdale Housing Initiative said: "The project at 18 Dover Street is a fantastic example of partnership working in the borough, and really demonstrates what can be achieved in empty property work with an accommodating owner, like Paul and social housing provider, like Regenda.