Empty Homes Fund

Financial assistance could be available to private landlords and owners to improve housing conditions within the district.

Empty Homes Fund

This Fund gives financial assistance to private landlords and owners to improve housing conditions within the district.

It also highlights the responsibility of owners and landlords to help improve the quality of housing conditions in the district whilst offering additional advice and grants for people needing other assistance.

About the Fund

The maximum fund available is £3000 per property with its main focus being centred around owners bringing their empty home back into use and to provide a source of good quality rented accommodation for those in need.

Eligible Properties

Eligible properties must have been unoccupied and unfurnished for at least 6 months prior to the date of the application. The vacant period is to be evidenced by council tax bills showing the relevant exemption.

Eligible applicants

Eligible applicants must be the owners of the empty property or people representing the owners' interest (such as an executor of a will). The following conditions apply:

Consideration to nomination from the Housing Waiting List
Rents will be set at no higher than Local Housing Allowance Rates for a period of 3 years
The council will carry out a survey at the property
Commitment of work must be evidenced prior to funds being released
The property when completed will meet the Decent Homes Standard
The property must be brought back into use within 12 months
A Land Registry Charge will be applied to the property until work is completed.
The Fund is to be fully repaid if the property is not occupied within the 12 months of the fund payment

If an empty property has a potential buyer who wishes to apply for the fund with the intention to let out the property, the council will use discretion in these cases, however exchange of contract must take place within an agreed period.

Eligible cost the Fund could pay for

Capital repair cost to the property, for example:
Material costs
Contractor's labour costs.

Ineligible costs not to be paid for by the Fund

Professional fees not related to the labour or materials of the improvement work,for example:
Estate agent fees
Surveyor fees
Architect fees

Other Ineligible costs

Works expected to be covered by a standard building insurance
Repairs to sheds outbuildings or appurtenances
Works on land drainage
Where works have been completed at the time of enquiry

Legal and financial advice

Applicants should seek their own legal advice regarding the Local Land Charge which will be placed on the property and their own financial advice regarding the fund.

For information on the assessment criteria and conditions of the fund please see the pdf icon Empty Homes Fund Application 2013-14 [1Mb] for further details.