East Marsh United tackles empty homes in Grimsby, creating community and transforming lives. Eleven homes rented, more to come.
Grimsby Live spoke with EMU’s housing manager, Paula Graves. EMU now has twelve homes. Eleven homes are rented out, and they plan to buy another one soon. Most homes have two or three bedrooms and many were once empty.
Paula said they have many tenant applications and she never needs to advertise available properties. EMU chooses tenants carefully, considering who fits best into the community, emphasizing that local support is important.
One new tenant lived alone in a flat. Now, she lives near family and friends, creating a support system. Paula wants to rebuild the community and believes EMU’s homes are helping.
Residents say things are changing. People on Rutland Street are adding plants and taking pride in their street. People feel safer outside.
EMU runs a monthly tenants’ group, which helps people make new friends. People connect who might not otherwise meet.
Sara Wagstaff works with community voice and housing, linking EMU with Huddersfield University to share good housing ideas.
EMU focuses on buying houses on Rutland Street. They want to improve the whole street, and Paula thinks about the impact; eleven homes made a difference. Paula thinks EMU transforms lives directly. East Marsh has good people and stories, and she wants to change the area’s image.
Rutland Street might get new landlord rules, called selective licensing, which could start in late 2025. A consultation is open until April 7, and Paula thinks it will help by forcing landlords to improve homes.
Paula had questions for ethical landlords like EMU and is concerned about the program’s potential fees. The indicative fee is between £899-£1,284 for five years. She worries landlords might evict tenants to sell, but overall, she sees it as a chance to improve housing and asked people to participate in the consultation.
Paula shared EMU’s council relationship. “I have a good relationship with them,” she said. “They don’t want empty homes, we don’t want empty homes.”
EMU wants more government funding to fix up more empty homes. A foundation helped EMU buy homes.