Empty houses are wasted homes, so we are working with local property owners to bring empty property back into use for the benefit of our communities.
If you own an empty property
There are many reasons why you might end up owning an empty property, such as the death of a relative or ongoing issues with a refurbishment project.
We understand that knowing how to deal with an empty property can be overwhelming, but it’s important to act. Empty properties deteriorate and lose value, and they also encourage crime and antisocial behaviour.
200% Council Tax will be charged on properties that have been empty for between one and five years. 300% Council Tax will be charged on properties that have been empty for five years, and 400% on properties that have been empty for ten years or more.
Learn more by watching our video
Get financial assistance
Empty property financial assistance will be available, subject to budget availability, for renovation works or other works which help bring the property back into use.
The assistance will be delivered via two schemes:
- Lendology CIC Empty Property Loans
- Empty Property Small Works Grants
These are repayable loans to finance property repairs to bring empty properties back into use. Eligibility and loan conditions are as follows:
- Minimum £500 and maximum of £30,000 loan per property to be administered by Lendology CIC.
- Only one loan can be claimed per property with a maximum of three loans per applicant, per financial year.
- The maximum combined amount for an individual claimant is £90,000 per financial year.
- Only for repair works specified and agreed by us at B&NES.
- Where appropriate the loan can include a suitable contingency.
- Loan funded works must be completed within 12 months of final loan approval and the property must be brought back into residential use or for sale at market value within 3 months of the completion of works. These time frames can be extended with written agreement from us at B&NES.
- Back into use means permanent residence or other residential use subject to appropriate planning permission. Second homes or holiday type lets are not eligible and are excluded from this loan scheme.
- Eligible works to be covered by the loan must be agreed by the Empty Property Officer at a pre work inspection.
- Payment of the loan will be made to the applicant after the satisfactory completion of the loan funded works (or phase of works if interim payments have been agreed), submission of satisfactory invoices to us and following an inspection by the Empty Property Officer
- The grant minimum is £25, and the maximum amount is £500.
- The grants are to finance small works that will help bring the property back into residential use. Grants are available to owners of properties classified as empty under the Empty Property Policy.
- One grant can be claimed per empty property per financial year. More than one grant can be applied for during the same financial year at the discretion of the Empty Property Officer up to two grants per applicant.
- Eligible works to be covered by the grant must be agreed in advance by the Empty Property Officer following a pre work inspection.
- The grants are conditional, and we would seek to recover the grant, if the claimant fails to adhere to the terms or fails to bring the property back into residential use within 12 months.
Examples of eligible works are:
- Clearance of house or garden
- Gas Safety Certificate
- Electrical Safety Certificate
- Installation of hard-wired fire alarm system
- Works to remedy Category One hazards
- Payment of eligible fees, such as planning or architect fees
- To apply for an Empty Property Loan the applicant must own the empty property or have a secure legal interest for a period of at least 60yrs. Proof of title and consent of all owners will be required by Lendology.
- Grants can be applied for by the liable party as per our Tax record for the empty property.
- To be eligible for either the loan and/or a grant the property must have been empty for 6 months and over, as defined by the Empty Residential Property Policy.
- A valid application must be made.
- Estimates for the cost of the works are required, prior to approval. For loans two estimates will be required and for grants only one estimate is required, unless otherwise directed by the Empty Property Officer.
- Any costs for eligible works that come in over and above the maximum or agreed loan or grant amount will be met by the loan or grant applicant.
- Funding is only available for the cost of works started after the approval of assistance. Completed or started works cannot be paid for retrospectively with the loan or grant.
- Loans can be used to cover the cost of energy efficiency improvements, where the minimum EPC standard is required for occupying the property.
- Interim loan payments can be made as works progress, the agreed loan amount can be split into more than one smaller loan which will be approved upfront in agreed amounts, in accordance with financial rules administered by Lendology CIC.
- Payments can be made to the applicant or directly to the contractor(s) with the client’s authority following submission of an acceptable invoice including any professional fees. All works must be completed to our satisfaction.
The repayment conditions of Empty Property Loans are agreed by the Empty Property Officer in consultation with Lendology. This done on a case-by-case basis, dependant on the proposed end use for the property as detailed below:
- Owner occupier – 5-year maximum term repayment period, with one-year deferred payment option at the start.
- Private rented sector – 5-year maximum term repayment period with one-year deferred payment option at the start.
- Open market sale – 3-year maximum term repayment period with one-year deferred payment option at the start.
- Affordable/social housing - 10-year maximum repayment period with one-year deferred payment option at the start.
Financial assistance is subject to available funding. Indicative amounts at time of writing are as follows:
- Empty Property Loan Fund (Let/sold): £100,000 until exhausted. After which the amount available will be reviewed. Available where property will be let or sold.
- Empty Property Loan Fund (Owner-occupied): Funding through Decent Homes lending Pot where funds available having regard to other demands.
- Small Works Grants: £5,000 per annum until exhausted.
Find out more and apply for a loan
For more information on the terms and conditions on the Empty Property loans please visit Lendology, a provider of home improvement loans for homeowners funded by local councils.
To apply for a Small Works Grant, contact the Empty Property Officer through Lendology.
Our Empty Property Officer can help you deal with your empty property in a way that works for you.
We can help you in the following ways:
- Provide financial assistance with low-cost loans up to £30,000
- Offer small works grants for jobs up to £500
- Provide tailored support for bringing your property back into use
- Provide advice on your legal responsibilities as the owner to help you avoid reinforcement action
- Facilitate VAT relief or exemptions on contracted works
If you would like our help in dealing with your empty property, please contact our Empty Property Officer on 01225 39 64 11 or email empty_properties@bathnes.gov.uk
Help us prevent empty properties in our community
If you're aware of, or you own an empty property, use the following suggestions to find out how you can help us prevent empty homes negatively impacting our community.
If you are aware of an empty property impacting on the community, please report it.
Watch on YoutubeWatch our video to find more information on reporting an empty property,
We are running schemes to provide housing for refugees. These schemes also offer financial incentives and support to landlords.
If you own an empty home and you would like to bring it back into use to help refugees, please contact our Empty Property Officer on 01225 39 64 11 or email empty_properties@bathnes.gov.uk
Register your interest
If you are interested in offering an empty home through the Homes for Ukraine scheme, please visit the GOV.UK web page on Homes for Ukraine
If you wish to rent out your empty property once refurbished
If you are hoping to refurbish an empty property with a view to renting it out, Lendology Empty Property Loans can be used to complete energy efficiency improvements in order to obtain an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate).
Loans of up to £30,000 are available. Watch the video to find out more
If you wish to live in your empty property once refurbished
Energy at Home provides information and useful resources on energy-related home improvements, grants and loan schemes for Bath & North East Somerset residents.
Retrofitting listed buildings
Listed Building Champions
If you own an empty listed property, you could benefit from a low-cost visit from a Conservation Officer and an energy expert at the same time. They will advise on how to improve energy efficiency in order to rent or re-occupy your property, through the Green Heritage Homes project led by Bath & West Community Energy in partnership with the Council.
Becoming a Champion involves agreeing to participate in case studies and sharing information on energy use with the project team and wider networks to help inspire others.
Level 0 Pre-App Advice
If you own an empty listed property and need planning advice on energy efficiency for your listed building but don't know where to start, we offer a Level 0 pre-application service at a fixed low fee. You will have the chance to discuss retrofit options with a Conservation Officer and look at the heritage considerations of different energy efficiency measures. You can find out more by visiting the Green Heritage Homes webpage.
Our Empty Residential Property Policy explains how we bring properties back into use by providing owners with advice and guidance, financial assistance and by taking legal action.
If you need more information or guidance, please contact Debbie Freeman, our Empty Property Officer. on 01225 39 64 11 or email empty_properties@bathnes.gov.uk