Empty Homes

We work to bring as many empty properties back into use to continue providing valuable housing in the district. As a property owner within the private sector, you can access a non-repayable grant or interest-free loan to help you achieve a Decent Homes Standard and gain a rental income from your empty property.

To access the non-repayable grant, we require that you make the property available to let to a pre-approved tenant for a minimum of two years.

Grant benefits

The non-repayable grant of up to £10,000 will help to bring an empty property up to a lettable standard.

A rental income for you at the Local Housing Allowance ranging from £373.97 PCM for a one-bedroom property, to approximately £707.03 PCM for a four-bedroom property. Renting out your two-bedroom property for five years could result in a minimum rental income of over £28,000.

We will find the right tenant for your property, however; you as the property owner will have the opportunity to meet potential tenants with one to one support from your dedicated Housing Officer

Assistance from your dedicated officer with viewings, tenancy agreements, inspections and inventories, deposits and rent in advance of and throughout the tenancy – for free!

Additional funding to cover any damages

Loan benefits

To access the interest-free loan up to £10,000 we require the property to be bought back into use either by sale, occupation by you as your main home or by letting the property within three months of the works being completed.

Funding is limited and therefore we will only be able to help a certain amount of empty property owners. Please contact us using the form at the bottom of this page if you're interested in this loan.

Whatever the reason your property stands empty, we may be able to help. For an informal discussion please contact us and we will visit your property to assess the condition and how the property may be affecting the surrounding area.

We can also use enforcement powers and may be able to take legal action to bring your empty home back into use, including:

• Compulsory Purchase Orders
• Enforced Sales
• Council Tax Enforced Sales
• Empty Dwelling Management Orders

It is worth noting that it is very likely that your current buildings insurance is invalid if the property becomes empty for long periods. Insurance premiums for empty properties are usually higher. For more information regarding this, you will need to contact your insurance provider.

If you wish to report an Empty Home please contact us.