Empty Homes Improvement Grant
Grant overview
A grant to help owners of uninhabitable long-term empty properties to carry out improvements and bring the property back into use. Applicants may also benefit from reduced VAT rates on materials, maximising the value of this grant.
Grant eligibility criteria
The grant will be available to owners of uninhabitable residential properties that have been long-term vacant.
This grant is not subject to a means test, but the grant is limited to properties that are
- long-term (more than 2-years) empty properties, and
- classified by the Council as uninhabitable.
Applications for properties not meeting all these criteria may be considered on a case-by-case basis, where funds allow and based on the strength of the business case.
Grant conditions
In addition to the ‘general restrictions and conditions’ set out in Appendix 1 to the Housing Grants and Assistance Policy, the following specific conditions apply to the Accessible Homes Grant.
Maximum grant
The maximum grant is 75% of the cost of works up to a maximum contribution of £10,000. No more than one grant will be paid in respect of any one property or applicant.
Eligible works
The grant can be put towards any approved costs of works associated with returning the property to an occupied condition.
On completion of the works, the property must meet the Decent Homes Standard and have an EPC rating of C or higher.
Nomination rights
On completion of the works, the property must be let to a Council-nominated tenant at an affordable rent. The following nomination periods will apply:
- Grants of £0 to £4,999 = 2 years nomination rights
- Grants of £5,000 to £10,000 = 4 years nomination rights
- Responsibility for managing the property and tenants will remain with the owner.
Repayment of grant and registration as a Local Land Charge
The full value of this grant awarded will be placed as a land charge from the date of completion of works for the duration of any nomination period.
The grant will be repayable immediately in the event a grant condition is breached.
Note: All discretionary grants are subject to funding availability and may be withdrawn or amended without notice.