We are committed to bringing long term empty properties back into use to help increase the supply of housing in the area.  

To help empty homeowners, a pilot scheme to provide grants to renovate long term empty properties to make them safe to live in and bring them back into use is being set up. Once the work has been completed, these properties need to be made available for private rent at the local housing allowance rate, for at least 3 years. 

• The property must have been registered as empty on council tax for at least 1 year prior to application.  
• The grant can cover a range of renovation works, including structural repairs, rewiring, central heating installation, new kitchen and bathroom and more. 
• Grants are available up to a maximum of £20,000 which is capped at 50% of eligible works, with the owner contributing the other 50% for the works. 
• At least 2 fully costed and itemised schedules of works from VAT registered contractors will be required. These must specify the total costs to undertake works and state whether costs include VAT. 
• Work must not have begun before grant assistance has been agreed by the Council. Grants will not be awarded retrospectively. 
• The owner needs to be a registered landlord or needs to become a registered landlord. 
• Only one grant is available per property.