Refurbishment Grants
Empty Property Grants are administered by each local authority. There are usually conditions attached to this type of grant such as making the property available for social housing for a fixed period. Eco Renovation Grants are administered by local authorities as well as other bodies
For full details of empty property grants and grant qualifications click on the London Borough where your property is located.
NB LOCAL AUTHORITY OFFICERS: IF YOUR GRANT INFORMATION IS INCORRECT PLEASE CALL ON 020 7022 1870 OR EMAIL INFO@EMPTYHOMES.COM
London Local Government Grants
Borough: Barking & Dagenham : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Funding given to accredited Landlords if the property is let to vulnerable households or key workers for 3 yrs at a rent agreed with the Council.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: The Council takes short term lets from managing agents. Typically a tenant is given permanent rehousing in 4 months.
Borough: Barnet: Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Owners of 2 or 3 bed flats/houses will receive £10K in return for a 5 year lease with the HA. In return the council will receive nomination rights for the participating properties.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: PSL with 3 RSL lease partners - PCHA, Stadium & NHHT, providing temporary accommodation on a 5 year lease. The RSLs manage the properties & LBB has nomination rights for the duration.
Borough: Bexley : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Interest free loan when linked to PSL scheme.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: PSL run in house using private managing agents for referrals and management of properties.
Borough: Brent : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Up to 60% of cost of eligible works or £6,500 per person space on condition of 5 yr lease/nomination agreement.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: PSL acquisitions in house, then management taken by ALMO, Brent housing partnership. HALs scheme with 3 partner RSLs (PCHA, Stadium & Shepherds Bush) ALS co-ordinated in-house by Private Hsg Info. Unit. Deposit Guarantee Scheme.
Grant Application: Council provides work specifications and the owner must get quotes from two different builders. No enivironmental conditions.
Borough: Bromley : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: From 2005 loan scheme over 3 yrs will be available, up to £20-£30K (to be confirmed).
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: PSL scheme in partnership with SLFHA & NHHT. Properties leased between 3-5 yrs during which time RSL manage both tenants & property.
Borough: Camden : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Pay up to 75% of the cost of the works. £15,000 for bed-sit, studio or one bed flat; £25,000 for two bed flat or larger. Max £80,000 per building. Offer a deposit guarantee scheme up to £700 for a landlord who accommodates a tenant referred by the borough.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: Pathmeads lease properties under a HALS scheme to use as temporary accommodation. LB Camden are looking for all kinds of properties (bed-sits, studios, one-bed flats) ready to let as permanent, settled accommodation for our priority and non-priority homeless clients.
Grant Application: Owners are required to present a specification of works as well as quotes from 2 builders.
Borough: City of Westminster : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Grants given on a sliding scale: min 3 yrs nomination rights - up to 10 yrs; 1-bed - 9K - 30K; 2-bed - 12K - 40K; 3-bed 15K - 50K.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: In-house PSL scheme; HALs partners - Stadium HA, Pathmeads and Notting Hill Housing Trust
Borough: Corporation Of London : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Renovation gratnts for property empty 6 mths+; max grant of 15K for up to 75% of eligible work. Grants are processed under remit of Private Sector Renewal Officer.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: None
Borough: Croydon: Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Empty Prop Grants, Housing Corp. Funded schemes and leasing schemes.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: PSL with partner RSLs - Hyde HA, Horizon and SLFHA.
Grant Application: The onus is on the owner to arrange a schedule of works and get 2 quotes from builders. Then the council's surveyor checks the estimates and confirms the work can be carried out. If necessary interim payments can be made subject to checks that the work has been carried out. A final check is done on completion and the full payment is usually made within ten days. Croydon don't provide lists of recommended professionals.
Borough: Ealing : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Empty Homes Renovation grant are available up to £15,000 per unit. The property must then be let to the council via the PSL scheme for a period of five years.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: PSL in partnership with managing agents, a mix of Ltd. Companies and RSLs. The Council pays the managing agent hence the lease agreement is directly between landlord and the supplier.
Borough: Enfield : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: PSL part funded by Council. Renovation grants available with an upper cap of £25k per unit. Grants can cover up to 80%of eligible works. Owners must agree to lease property for minimum of 5 years and property will be managed by Frays Housing Association during this period.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: Enfield operates an in house PSL scheme. HALs partners (Dominium HA, Pathmeads HA, East Thames HA and Newlon HA).TSHG partners are East Thames and Christian Action (East Thames are looking for 6 units during 2005/06 and Christian Action are looking for 11 units)
Borough: Greenwich : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Homes Improvement GrantsUp to £20, 000 in exchange for nomination rights.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: Contracted out to local estate agents. Operates various schemes. Mainly takes properties within the borough but occasionally neighbouring boroughs too.
Borough: Hackney : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: For an empty property grant allocation is 50% of the eligible cost of works for renovating a single family home up to a maximum of £10,000 per letting. If the property were converted into two or more flats, a further £10,000 is available per dwelling created up to a max. of £25K. An additional warmth and security grant, currently £5,000, is also available for warmth and security measures such a loft insulation and central heating. So, from the above, a maximum of £25,000 is available. If an empty property grant is awarded, the property must then be made available for leasing through one of the Council's private sector leasing partners for a minimum period of five years.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: HALs with Family HA and Newlon.Eight private 'agents' manage properties providing temporary accommodation to homeless people.
Borough: Hammersmith & Fulham : Last updated: December 200
Funding regime to private owners: Empty Property Grants from our Grant budget. Max 20K per unit created.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: PSL scheme managed in house.
Grant Application: In house ‘Home Improvement Agency’
Provides schedules of works; lists of builders/electricians available for info. not reccomendation. No environmental conditions.
Borough: Haringey : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Two types of grants are given on vacant privately owned residential properties:
(1) Empty property owners are given grants up to half of the cost of the works with the maximum being £11,000 per unit and £25K per property. In return the landlord would rent the property to the Council for two years and they cannot sell for 10 years.
(2) A new grant of up to £25,000 is also offered to first time buyers or owner occupiers who are moving to larger properties to prevent over crowding.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: Various schemes are offered to landlords operated either directly by the Council or by Housing Associations.
Borough: Harrow : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Available to owners of properties empty 6 months + in exchange for nomination rights, e.g. £5K - 3 yr nomination right; £30K - 15 yr nomination right.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: Operate a HALs scheme in partnership with Stadium HA; Pathmeads HA; Acton HA and Frays HA. Also let properties direct from landlords and lettings agents.Opereate a scheme called Finders Fee which is working to reduce homelessness by enabling clients to rent private sector accommodation directly from landlords.
Borough: Havering : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Empty Property Grant available to landlords who are accredited by LLAS and the property on completion is an Accredited property under of Three Borough's Accreditation Scheme (Havering, Redbridge and L B Barking & Dagenham). Grants are limited to £10,000 with the possibility of a further £10,000. The Council requires five year nomination rights under it's Direct Leasing Scheme.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: EP Grants and PSL scheme are managed by the Housing Department. Property inspections are carried out by Environmental Health Services and application can be obtained from either department
Grant Application: Borough carries out the schedule of work,s a list of reputable contractors can be requested. No environmental conditions.
Borough: Hillingdon : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Up to max. of £15 - 20K through Private Sector renewal grants - grants are at 50% of the cost of a property fit to live in and bringing it back into use.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: PSL with 2 RSL (Frays, Acton) and 1 private firm, Orchard & Shipman, procure and manage on behalf of LBH.
Borough: Hounslow : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Empty Property grants given for properties that: a) fail fitness standard;b) be empty for more than 6 month; c) have a max of 4 bedroom.If the property is not unfit but in substantial disrepair, it must obtain the required level of points on assessment. EPG is capped at £10K and must be match funded by the applicant.The Council will require nomination rights for 5 years.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: In house PSL.
Grant Application: Council prefers client to employ an agent to provide schedule of works. If the council do it they charge £300. Then they require a minimum of two quotes from builders. Hounslow council can provide a list of builders through their contract services department.
Borough: Islington : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: EP Grants available to renovate property for leasing purposes and are allocated each financial year starting in April. · property has been empty for 2 years or more;· property is unfit for inhabitation or in substantial disrepair· the property will be let on the open market or using one of the council schemes· planning permission for your proposed works or have an Established Use CertificateRecipients must be the owner or the leaseholder of the property and have at least 3 years outstanding on your lease.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: PSL - managed by RSL or Private Social Landlord for properties within LB Islington boundaries.Rent Deposit Schemes - offered to Landords of properties either inside or outside LB Islington. Agents/Landlords are offered a Non-refundable deposit of up to £1000. (£600 for a room/studio, £700 for a flat with one bedroom, and £100 for each extra room) The Landlord/Agent manages the property to house the homeless or those threatened with homelessness. Rent is not paid in advance.Key Worker Scheme - landlords must sign over the property for min 3 years; rent is paid in advance; properties can be inside or outside the borough; landlords both manage the property and collect rent from tenants directly.
Borough: Kensington & Chelsea : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: An Empty Property Grant (EPG) will be made available to an owner whose property is classed as long-term vacant i.e. a property which has been empty for at least 6 months, in cases where newly created dwellings are intended to be let at affordable rents. The EPG will be made available at 50% of the cost of the eligible works, up to a maximum of £5,000 per habitable room.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: Yes. Owners will only be considered for grant assistance to bring a vacant property back into residential use if they agree to work with the Council and its partners to deliver affordable housing in the borough. Conditions will also be attached to the approval of the grant to enforce the agreement for a period of 5 years.
Grant Application: Owner needs to employ a surveyor or architect to present a schedule of works. They then need to get quotes from two builders. The council don’t have any lists of approved builders, surveyors, etc.
Borough: Kingston : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Funding meets a proportion of the cost of works needed to bring empty properties up to habitable standard.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: Yes. The service is managed within the Temporary Accommodation Unit, a Procurement Officer negotiates with landlords, inspects the property, carries out an inventory and schedule of condition and arranges a lease agreement. All leased properties are then managed by housing officers within the Temporary Accommodation Team.
Borough: Lambeth : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Grants of up to £20,000 per unit through SW London partnership. 5 year nomination rights to Lambeth Council.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: PSL scheme with partner. Used as temporary accommodation for homeless families.
Grant Application: Owner has to provide all drawings, schedule of works etc themselves. Then they also need to arrange two quotes from builders. No money paid until completion.
Borough: Lewisham : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: £10K per unit - max of £50K.Also operate an acquisition scheme across parts of the borough.
Owners have to become members of London Landlord Accreditation Scheme. Also have to advertise in Lewisham Choice Based Letting scheme.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: PSL in partnership with established and experienced RSL's, Strong support given to the London Landlord Accreditation scheme - condition of grant.
Grant Application: Owner needs to employ professionals to provide a full schedule of works, drawings, planning permission, building regs approval etc. Then they need to provide two estimates from reputable builders (registered for VAT and with Companies House etc). Council inspect at halfway point for an interim payment then pay out remainder on completion. No environmental conditions.
Borough: Merton : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Max £20K (usually match funded by owner) in return for 5-year nomination rights.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: No full PSL scheme; a landlord sponsor scheme provides a financial incentive to landlords to take tenants in housing need. LB Merton does not provide any management function.
Grant Application: Environmental Services provide a schedule of works or the owner can employ a surveyor themselves. Then they need two estimates from builders. There will be an inspection on completion followed by payment. No interim payments are available.
Borough: Newham : Last updated: December 200
6Funding regime to private owners: No funding regimes for private owners. If properties remain empty long term they are CPO'd.
Borough: Redbridge : Last updated: December 2006
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: PSL with 3 private sector letting Agents (lease agreement with landlord/nomination rights with LB Redbridge.
Grant Application: The onus is on owners to engage architects or surveyors to produce a schedule of works (necessary for larger schemes; 2 builders quotes for costs of works needed. Lists of approved contractors are available. No environmental conditions.
Borough: Richmond-upon-Thames : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Empty Property Renovation Grants - SW Partnership (London Housing Board).
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: In house PSL, minimum leasing of 2 years and used as temporary accommodation for homeless families.
Grant Application: The borough can provide a schedule of works, lists of surveyors & architects as well as reputable builders if necessary. No environmental conditions.
Borough: Southwark : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: £8,000 per unit grant up to a maximum of £40,000 for a 5-unit scheme where the completed property is rented on the private market. £12,000 per unit grant is available up to a maximum of £60,000 for a 5-unit scheme completed property rented to Council scheme.Where the property is a studio flat, the grant is capped at up to £6,500 per unit. Plus an additional £1,500 fgrant or energy efficiency works. £20K Empty property loan- mean tested (repayable)
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: PSL with partners Nottinghill Housing Trust, Hyde HA & Family HA; 5 yrGuaranteed income, free day to day repairs and management. Southwark Finders Fee - will take on properties anywhere in the country; with a rent deposit offered for up to £1k to landlords Landlords/owners will have to arrange management though.
Borough: Sutton : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: EP grants: details to be confirmed.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: PSL with Threshold and Wandle HAs.
Grant Application: Owners are required to provide a schedule of works and 2 quotes from builders to apply for any grant.
Borough: Tower Hamlets : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Empty property grants: 1 bedflat £20K, 2 beds £25K, 3beds £30K, 4/5 bed £35K for rental to key workersat 70% of mkt rent for 5 years.
Grant Application: Currently none.
Borough: Waltham : Forest Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Renovation grant; East London partnerships (flats above shops); Landlord accreditation Scheme.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: PSL scheme and Rent Deposit Scheme as well as work with partner RSLs and private letting agents.
Borough: Wandsworth : Last updated: December 2006
Funding regime to private owners: Grant of up to £20,000 per unit through SW London Partnership. Require 5 year nomination/RSL lease.
Details of Private Sector Leasing (PSL) partners: None.
Grant Application: Owners must provide drawings and a schedule of works for approval, followed by 2 estimates from builders. Council have a list of contractors but provide no guarantees. Payment is usually on completion but can apply for interim payments.