OWNERS of empty, run-down homes in Ryedale could soon feel the brunt of a tough new council policy where the bottom line is improve it and use it - or lose it.

The Empty Homes Strategy, which will be discussed by Ryedale District Council's community services and licensing committee on Tuesday, aims to generate more affordable housing by bringing empty properties back into use.

The latest figures show that there are almost 730,000 empty properties in England, of which 93 per cent are privately owned. In Ryedale there are 475, but 104 have been empty for more than a year.

"Empty homes are, at best, a waste of resources and, at worst, a blight on the lives of individuals and whole communities," said housing services manager Richard Etherington in a report.

"We aim to encourage and facilitate the bringing back into use of empty residential properties to provide much needed decent, affordable homes for local people.

"This strategy is essentially about identification, engagement, negotiation and persuasion. It does not, however, provide for inertia, and owners who unreasonably refuse to bring their empty properties back into the use could face losing them through either compulsory purchase or enforced sale."

Unoccupied properties left for long periods of time deteriorate and deny people housing opportunities. They can also cause damage to adjoining properties through damp or infestations. And boarded up windows and doors, overgrown gardens and dumped rubbish can affect the value and marketability of neighbouring homes.

Empty homes can attract petty crime and antisocial behaviour ranging from fly-tipping to graffiti, warned the report. In some cases they can be the site of more serious criminal activity like drug-dealing or arson.

The Empty Property Strategy, which will form a key part of the council's housing strategy, aims to prevent properties becoming empty, maximise the use of existing homes, use empty homes to help meet the needs of Ryedale residents and create ways to achieve these objectives.

Grants to fund the cost of renovations to empty homes, space above businesses and multiple occupation houses to make them habitable will be available for half of the cost of the works, up to £10,000.

Updated: 10:52 Tuesday, November 25, 2003