Empty homes

We encourage use of empty homes to meet housing need within the Borough. To help owners, we offer advice. If your property needs works to eliminate a serious hazard you may be able to get a empty home loan to help prepare it for occupation.

Why return empty homes to use?

Empty homes are a waste. Returning them to use benefits communities in many ways:

• Improving the appearance of the neighbourhood
• Providing housing for local people in need of a home
• Easing the pressure for housing development on green-field sites
• Reducing the risk of squatters, vandalism and crime
• Increasing the value of neighbouring homes
• Increasing trade for local shops and businesses.

How does bringing empty homes back to use benefit property owners?

Benefits to a home owner include:

• Security against vandalism and squatting
• An occupied property in good condition will increase in value and reduce future maintenance costs
• A rental income or improved sales potential
• Council Tax paid by tenants not the owner.

How is the Council helping return empty homes to use?

We are identifying long term empty properties in the area so that we can offer their owners advice and support to bring them back to use. It need not even be an empty house – buildings can be converted and flats created from vacant space above shops. Our empty property co-ordinator can provide advice to owners on options available and information on lettings and getting financial help. In some circumstances this can include providing an interest free loan to carry out essential works to your property.

How does it work?

If you are the owner of empty property and are not sure how to bring it back into use, please contact us for advice. We can arrange to meet you or your agent to carry out an inspection and discuss options. We do not charge for this service and you have no obligation to take any of the options discussed.

What options are available?

Options for bringing property back into use include:

• Arranging improvements and repairs for the owner to live in it
• The owners letting the property and managing it themselves either privately or through our Afford Scheme
• Leasing the property under the management of a private letting agent.
• Selling the property to a private buyer or developer.
• Leasing the property to the Council.

What financial help might be available?

An interest free loan is available if an owner agrees to lease the property to the Council for the time the loan is outstanding.  We consider applications for empty property home improvement loans for properties that have been vacant for six months or more and need work to be suitable for occupation.

A loan will be considered:

• Where there is a 'serious hazard' that would affect the health and safety of a tenant or where works are needed to conform to the decent homes standard and remedial works are determined as the most satisfactory course of action
• To provide an energy efficient heating system and works to improve thermal insulation.

What powers do local authorities have to return empty properties to use?

Under the Housing Act 2004 local authorities can consider using empty dwelling management orders to take over management of a property. This can be carried out by us or passed on to a managing agent. If you own an empty property and wish to discuss this, please contact us on 01329 236100 or e-mail customerservicecentre@fareham.gov.uk