Every so often I’m contacted by constituents who are frustrated by overgrowing trees, weeds and plants from neighbouring gardens. All too often, it turns out the uncared for gardens belong to unoccupied houses which could, if allowed, provide excellent homes for people in housing need.
The Leader of Brentwood Borough Council, Cllr Chris Hossack, has something of a reputation locally in persuading the owners of these properties to shape up or sell up, and get the houses back into use - for the benefit of others in the community.
The Government has just announced an expansion of a similar scheme which deals with dormant bank and building society accounts. Since the introduction of the dormant assets scheme in 2011, more than £600 million from dormant has gone to good causes, supporting disadvantaged young people into housing, training and work.
The Government is now expanding the scheme so that it also covers a wider range of financial products, unlocking hundreds of millions of pounds for more good causes. Consumers will be protected by the inclusion only of assets that have been dormant for 15 years, where the owner cannot be traced. And don’t worry, if you suddenly find a long forgotten bank book and come forward, any money liberated from your dormant account will be fully refunded.