Owners of empty properties in Liverpool are being urged to attend a special free event providing advice and guidance on ways to bring them back into use.

No Use Empty at the Town Hall from 11am until 3pm on Tuesday 13th October will include details of how to turn a property into an asset.

There will be presentations on bring a property back into use, selling a property at auction, how to let a vacant home and energy efficiency. In addition there will be a range of exhibitors ranging from auction houses and landlord organisations through to insurance companies and letting agents.

The event is aimed at building on the city’s success in reducing the number of long term empty homes in the city – which has dropped by a third over the last three years to around 6,000.

Councillor Frank Hont, Cabinet member for housing, said:

“We recognise that sometimes owners of empty homes are having difficulty letting them or finding somebody to occupy them. At the same time, they can cause problems for neighbours if they are not maintained, and attract vandals or fly tipping.

“This event is aimed at encouraging people with empty properties to think about new ways of bringing them back into use or sell them.

“It is a chance for them to find out more about auctioning a property, or the standards they have to meet if they wish to let a property out.

“No Use Empty is just another one of the ways in which we are working to make our neighbourhoods sustainable and drive up the quality and standard of homes in the city.”

Cathy Holt, Head of Sutton Kersh auctions, said:

“We’re looking forward to being part of this event.

“We are always inundated with people contacting us about having an empty property that they are thinking of selling at auction, so hopefully our advice and guidance will help many more.”

To pre-register for the event, email emptyhomes@liverpool.gov.uk or call 0151 233 0219. More information can be found at http://liverpool.gov.uk/housing/report-housing-standards-and-conditions/empty-homes/