The Empty Property Grant was introduced under
the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales)
Order 2002. It was created as part of the Council's Empty Property
Strategy to help reduce the Council's housing register waiting
times.
It is designed to return properties which have
been empty for more than six months back into use or to utilise
empty spaces above commercial properties for rent.
Amount of Grant
The grant is payable in respect of work required
to bring the property up to decent homes standards. The following
options are available:
Option 1:
An empty property grant will cover the full costs
of eligible work, up to a maximum of £20,000 in return for the
landlord leasing the property to a housing association for five
years.
Option 2:
An empty property grant will cover 50% of the
cost of eligible works, up to a maximum of £10,000 in return for
the landlord renting the property directly to an individual or
household nominated by the Council for a five year period.
In both cases, the Council would retain
nomination rights over the property for five years.
Eligible Applicants
The applicant must be over 18 and have an owners
interest in the property.
Application for a Grant
To apply for a grant complete the Empty
Properties Grant application form and send it with two estimates to
the Housing Team at the address below.
Once your application has been recieved it will
be placed on a waiting list and dealt with as soon as possible.
Work started prior to approval will not be
eligible.
Payment
Eden District Council must be satisfied that the
works have been properly completed before paying grant or recording
that the cost of assistance with materials has been properly made.
However, the contract for work remains between the applicant and
the contractor. The Council does not have any liability in any
contract between the grant applicant and the builder carrying out
the works. It is for the client to ensure that the contract is
undertaken to his satisfaction.
Conditions
A property must have been long term empty, ie
empty for six months or be an empty space above a commercial
property. Council Tax records will be used to verify this
criteria.
Some properties will not be suitable for this
scheme because of their size or location, for example properties in
rural areas where there is less demand for affordable rented
housing. However, please contact us if you wish to enquire about a
particular property as we may be able to offer advice about other
grants that are available.
Successive Grants
Only one grant application can be against a
property.
Empty Properties
Grant Application Form (PDF: 73Kb / 5 pages)
Empty Properties
Grant Application Form (Word Document: 113Kb / 5
pages)
Empty Properties
Grant Procedure (PDF: 15Kb / 2 pages)
Empty Properties
Grant Procedure (Word Document: 27Kb / 2 pages)
For further information about the terms and
conditions of the scheme and for an application form:
- Contact: The Housing Team,
Mansion House, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 7YG
- Telephone: (01768) 817817
- Email:
housing.services@eden.gov.uk
- Fax: (01768) 890732
