EHN Award Winners 2023: Meeting the Challenge Award, sponsored by Savills

Presented at our annual Conference in May, the EHN Awards serve to recognise and celebrate the work that empty homes officers, team and practitioners do on a daily basis, and enable them to promote their successes through national recognition. This year was no different, with some incredible examples of projects, case studies and people, who have displayed fantastic attributes to bring empty homes back into use in their areas.

Our Meeting the Challenge Award, Sponsored by Savills, is intended to highlight particularly difficult cases that have been successfully dealt with and in judging the submissions for this award, we look to reward those that have shown the drive and determination to see a case through to a successful conclusion.

Unable to split two outstanding examples, out first Joint Winners of this year’s award, The Empty Homes Doctor in Leeds, our panel said…

“In what appeared to be an insurmountable challenge to begin with, The Empty Homes Doctor’s methodical and pragmatic approach with all parties involved ensured that the owners were left satisfied, an empty home now occupied, and after-care meaning that an owner would not be left homeless from their place of residence.”

And of our second Joint Winner of this award, Durham County Council, the judges commented…

“During this case, officers have shown a thorough understanding of the owner’s circumstances, and with particularly challenging hurdles along the way, have assisted throughout by calling on the right people, with the right knowledge and expertise at the right time.”

Congratulations to The Empty Homes Doctor, Leeds, and Durham County Council for their continued efforts and hard work, which is evidently paying dividends in what you do!