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Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP)

Heatwave Response Plan

Purpose and Activation

The Hot Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is a humanitarian framework designed to protect vulnerable rough sleepers from the life-threatening risks of extreme heat, including severe dehydration, sunstroke, and heat exhaustion.

Malvern Hills District Council operates under a unified, proactive response framework alongside broader Worcestershire outreach services.

  • Activation Threshold: Triggered when the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issues an Amber or Red Heat-Health Alert for the West Midlands region, or when local temperatures are forecast to hit extreme highs (typically 30°C or above) for consecutive days.
  • Overriding Principle: The protocol operates outside of normal eligibility criteria. Humanitarian aid and immediate welfare support are prioritized regardless of local connection or housing status and the councils continue support when there is a minimal drop in temperature.

Key Responsibilities and Agency Coordination

The response relies on a coordinated effort between local authorities and local support networks:

  • Malvern Hills Councils: Coordinate crisis response logistics, and issue public alerts.
  • Commissioned Outreach Teams: Partnered outreach staff operating across Worcestershire conduct street sweeps and direct welfare checks.
  • Maggs Day Centre (Malvern Hub): Provides dedicated day-centre crisis support, hot meals, shade, and basic health/hygiene services as well as shade and formal support.
  • Caring Hands in the Vale (Evesham Hub): Provides local resource banks, clothing, food packages, drop-in meals, health/hygiene facilities, signposting to other agencies and shade.

Core Emergency Measures

Street Outreach and Welfare Checks

  • Intensified Sweeps: Outreach teams increase the frequency of daytime street walks to locate known and hidden rough sleepers.
  • Essential Supply Distribution: Teams directly distribute chilled bottled water, high-factor sunscreen and hats/caps.

Reporting and Referral Pathways

If you see someone sleeping rough during a heatwave, use the following channels to activate emergency support:

  • StreetLink: Report the individual's precise location, appearance, and time seen via the StreetLink Platform (thestreetlink.org.uk) to route an automated alert directly to the outreach teams.
  • Malvern Hills Housing Team: Contact via the Malvern Hills Housing Support Page for local support enquiries.
  • Emergency Services: Call 999 immediately if the individual is unresponsive, confused, showing signs of severe heatstroke, or requires urgent medical attention.

Empty Homes Hub

Advice - Report - Updates

Whether you're a property owner, potential buyer, or concerned resident, the Empty Homes Hub provides guidance and reporting tools, to help address the issue of empty homes in the district.

The hub explains what qualifies as an empty home, how to report one, and what powers the council has to intervene. It also outlines the advice and incentives available to owners who want to renovate or sell unused properties, including potential Council Tax and VAT discounts.

  • What is an Empty Home

  • Reporting an Empty Home

  • Advice and Incentives

    Council Tax | VAT Discount

  • Empty Homes Loan Scheme

    Apply | Eligibility

  • Commitment and Strategy

  • Local Authority Powers

  • Our Success

    Real Case | Data | Awards

  • Contact the Team

    To request a confidential chat

You have a question? We have an answer.

  • Can I request a list of properties and their owner details?

    We do not provide lists of privately owned empty homes and cannot provide this information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as public interest exemptions apply.

    You may consider using property auction websites to find empty homes on the market or approach local agents and registering an interest in properties that have been empty.

    Owners who are willing to sell will usually do so through an auction house or estate agent.

    Malvern Hills District Council does not keep a list of empty homes investors or buyers.

  • Does Malvern offer incentives or grants to owners who want to bring empty homes back in use?

    Malvern Hills District Council have launched a 0% interest loan scheme to assist owners with long term empty homes who want to bring their properties back into use but need help to do so. A further incentive is available for owners approved for the loan who then house a tenant via our free Tenant Finder service.

The Annual Cost of Owning an Empty Property in Malvern

Total annual Details
£4358

Council Tax
Average council tax charge on most common banded property across Malvern Hills parishes (band C ) Is £2179 plus 100% empty premium charge for long term empty properties gives a total council tax bill of £4358
£11,280

Loss on Rental Income
Using the average rent rate of £940 p/m , a potential rental income of £11,280 per year.
£1000

Work in Default
The potential costs for work carried out for failing to comply with notices served by us such as securing the property, could mean a liability of £1000. (Boarding up ground floor and tackling issues resulting in untidy land such as vegetation overgrowth for example).
£1000+

Enforcement Fees
Failure to comply with the requirements of a s.215 notice can lead to a fine of level 3 on the standard scale which stands at £1000, further failure to comply can result in a fine for each day compliance is not achieved, the fine can be as much as £5000 per day. Plus court costs which in one recent enforcement case amounted to £2500.
£400

Insurance Premium
Leaving a property empty for more than 30 days renders most standard policies void as empty homes poses more risk to insurers and therefore carry higher premiums. Building insurance standard policy cost an average of £199 in 2025, but the additional premium cost is likely to be much higher for an empty home.
£315

Utility Charges
Utilities standing charge, giving an annual cost of £314 per year (Ofgem average standing charge costs for electric and gas)
£18,352

Total cost of an empty property in Malvern Hills.

News

Read more …Empty Homes Hub

Our Empty Homes Success

In this section

Real Cases: How Engagement Leads to Results

Our approach continues to make a positive difference for empty homeowners and local communities.

Within this page are just some examples of our engagement with empty home-owners.

  • Case A – Probate Property Unlocked

    Empty for 6 years | Estate administration completed | Property Sold

    The situation
    This property had been empty for over 6 years following the death of the owner and a fire at the property. No one was managing the property and no progress in selling the property had commenced. It was causing concern to neighbours and attracting rodents.

    Council support
    The Empty Homes Officer contacted specialist genealogists to trace potential heirs.  Solicitors dealing with the property were identified and informed of the concerns regarding the property, pest control actions were agreed and took place alleviating the concerns of neighbours. In addition, the Empty Homes Officer discussed the long-term plans for the property and the solicitors escalated plans to auction the property.

    Outcome
    The property was auctioned for sale weeks after contact from the Empty Homes Officer and has now been sold. Ground works have commenced before renovations start on the property.

  • Case B – Renovations Supported by VAT Advice

    Empty for over 2 years property requiring renovations to bring back into use

    The situation
    This property had been empty for over two years and the owner required assistance with VAT reduction to be able to complete renovations to bring the property back into use.

    Council support
    The Empty Homes Officer advised the owner about the 5% VAT reduced rate, issued the required letter of authorisation

    Outcome
    The VAT reduction has helped the owner complete the renovations:

    “It was good to catch up with you this morning and to show you what we have done here at the house. 

    We just want to thank you for all of your help, especially with the VAT discount. It made such a difference, it paid for the kitchen!  It helped with our budget too, saving us around £20,000. 

    Your courteous and professional approach made all the difference, thank you.”

  • Case C – Renovations and Re-let Support

    Property renovations stalled and empty since 2020

    The situation

    The property had been empty for six years, this was due initially to COVID restrictions, however, help was also needed to restart renovations. Initial contact was made by the Empty Homes officer following a check on the list of long term empty properties provided by council tax.

    Council support
    The Empty Homes Officer explained eligibility for 5% reduced VAT. This enabled costs to be reassessed and renovations to restart following issuing of the VAT notice. Alongside this, advice was given on new legislation regarding private renting to ensure the new tenant was issued with the correct documentation and all safety check completed.

    Outcome
    Property renovations completed and re-let:

    “I think you asked me to confirm that my cottage in Malvern in now let- which it is. The one remaining thing I have to do is send my tenant the official form regarding the deposit, now safely transferred for him. I'll do that this evening so that is well within the legal dates required. Hopefully things will go smoothy from this point on.

    Thank you so much for your help. Malvern Council has been absolutely brilliant, offering genuine support and understanding throughout our complicated family housing situation over the past few years. We really appreciated this, and it has helped us reach a very positive outcome without any loss. Honestly, you have all been brilliant.

    Thanks for your guidance kindness and help."

Empty Homes Network (EHN) Annual Awards

Empty Homes Network 2026

2025-2026

Highly Commended - Rising Star Award for the current Empty Homes Officer

Highly Commended for an energetic and highly proactive approach that has already delivered significant results through owner engagement, partnerships working and strategic empty homes intervention.

Read more …Our Empty Homes Success

Contact the Empty Homes Team

In this section

If You Own an Empty Property

We understand that every empty property situation is different and we know that managing an empty home is not always straightforward. You may be dealing with inheritance, renovation costs, or uncertainty about your next steps.

Our team can help you explore your options and move things forward with confidence.

You might want to get in touch if:

  • You’ve inherited a property and aren’t sure what to do next
  • A home has been empty for some months
  • You’re struggling to sell, let, or renovate
  • You want to understand costs, tax, or available discounts (including VAT relief)
  • You’d like to talk things through before making a decision

Speaking to us early can help you:

  • Avoid unnecessary costs and delays
  • Understand your options clearly
  • Access practical advice and support
  • Prevent issues escalating

We take a supportive, practical approach and aim to work with owners to find the best solution.

Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and used only to help us understand your situation and offer appropriate advice.

Contact

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tel: 01386 565 020

Read more …Contact the Empty Homes Team

Empty Home Incentive Terms and Conditions

In this section

£1,000 Incentive – Terms and Conditions

Background

1.1 The Empty Homes Loan Scheme (“the Scheme”) is an initiative provided by Malvern Hills District Council (“the Council”) which provides financial assistance by way of a repayable loan to property owners to bring empty properties back into occupation.

1.2 As part of the Scheme, the Council is offering an incentive in the sum of £1,000.00 (“the Incentive”) to property owners who following completion of the loan funded works bring the property into occupation by letting it to a tenant referred through the Council’s ‘Tenant Referral Service’.

1.3 The Incentive is separate from and in addition to any loan provided under the Scheme. The terms and conditions of the loan agreement remain entirely separate to this Incentive.

Property

The Property to which this Incentive relates is…..

            “the Property”

2. Eligibility for the Incentive

2.1 The Property must be approved for the Empty Homes Loan Scheme and all required loan works must be completed to the satisfaction of the Council.

2.2 The Property must be safe, secure, and compliant with all relevant housing standards, including but not limited to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) and any locally adopted standards.

2.3 The Owner must accept a tenant for the Property referred exclusively through the Council’s Tenant Referral Service.

3. Conditions for Payment

3.1 The Incentive will be payable only after the referred tenant has signed a tenancy agreement and taken up occupation of the Property.

3.2 The tenancy must be for a minimum fixed term of twelve (12) months.

3.3 The Owner must provide evidence of the signed tenancy agreement and the date the tenant moved in to the Property

3.4 The Council reserves the right to withhold payment if any information provided by the Owner is false or misleading.

4. Owner Obligations

4.1 The Owner must ensure the property remains legally compliant throughout the tenancy, to include (but not limited to) gas safety, electrical safety, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and any licensing requirements.

4.2 The Owner agrees to maintain the Property in good repair and address any serious hazards within reasonable timeframes.

4.3 The Owner agrees to engage with the Council’s tenancy sustainment services if requested.

5. Council’s Rights and Limitations

5.1 The Council reserves the right to withdraw or amend the Incentive offer at any time prior to a referred tenant signing a tenancy agreement.

5.2 The Council accepts no liability for loss of rent or damage caused by the tenant.

5.3 The Council does not act as guarantor for the tenant.

6. Repayment of Incentive

6.1 The Council may require repayment of the Incentive if the Owner has breached these Terms and Conditions.

6.2 Repayment may also be required if the tenancy ends within the first six months due to action or inaction by the Owner.

6.3 Repayment must be made in full within 14 days of demand, by BACS transfer to the Council’s bank account, details of which will be provided in the formal demand notice.

7. Data Protection

7.1 The Council will process personal data in accordance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

7.2 Information may be shared with relevant partner agencies for the purpose of tenancy sustainment or safeguarding.

8. General

8.1 These Terms and Conditions may be amended by the Council at any time.

8.2 These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales

Read more …Empty Home Incentive Terms and Conditions

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