Business properties which are void are those which are connected to mains water and/or sewerage systems but are not charged because they are recorded as empty.
We are keen to reduce the number of these properties by identifying those that are actually occupied.
Based on our previous performance, we set ourselves the 2022/23 target to maintain the number of void business properties at 8.10 per cent.
How have we performed?
The number of void business properties is at 10.29 per cent, we are ranked fourth in the industry for the lowest number of vacant properties.
This is still above target, but we have agreed with Ofwat that we will be assessed at the end of the 2020/25 period due to the impact of Covid-19.
We are expecting to be at our target level at the end of 2024-25, the initial impact is believed to be largely due to the economic impact of Covid-19 resulting in a number of business properties being genuinely vacant.
During the year our staff have continue to carry out field surveys to help identify around 2,000 occupied properties.
We are continuing our work to reduce this figure and our staff, many of whom live across our supply area, continue to get involved too using the PikaVoid app.
The app can be voluntarily downloaded onto phones and staff mark whether a property is empty or occupied while out and about.
Moving forward we will be looking to provide a Wholesaler meter reading service to support the water retailers in identifying businesses that have reopened and therefore should be shown as occupied on the Market system.
We are also aware the current economic climate is putting pressure on small businesses and a number of commercial organisations are relocating out of town centres to other locations which is temporarily impacting the number of vacant properties.
