Today is the start of Empty Homes Week 2023.
Rebecca spoke to the BBC's Spotlight about a new grant scheme encouraging empty home owners to get their property ready for tenants and let with guaranteed, affordable rent to help tackle the housing crisis.
As before, landlords can apply for a loan of up to £50,000 per unit, which is repaid via subsequent rental income but this year there is an improved element.
Providing that the empty home owner undertakes to project manage the renovation themselves and agrees to rent the property at an affordable rate with Easylet, one of the city’s recognised social lettings schemes, they will be entitled to a 20 per cent grant.
Another scheme available is Repair and Rent, a brand new initiative for empty property owners without the confidence or capacity to manage a renovation themselves. Our partner organisation will carry out the required renovation and will provide a property management service.
Up to £20,000 per unit is available with a 20 per cent grant element, with the loan repaid from rental income generated by the property.
In Plymouth, empty homes officers are proactive and engage with the city’s most troublesome empty homes all year-round. They not only offer advice, guidance and financial assistance, but also have the option of enforcement as a last resort.
Like most local authorities in the UK, Plymouth has a large waiting list for housing in Plymouth.
Over the last two and a half years, the pandemic and associated factors like relationship breakdown, impact on physical and mental health, the end of furlough, business and job loss, increased utility costs, the end of the temporary ban on evictions and increased private sector rent costs have led to a significant increase in demand seeing the number of people approaching us for advice and support rise to an average of more than 200 households per month.
Quite simply, people need homes, which is why working to combat empty properties is so key.
