A dated family home in Peverell has been given a new lease of life thanks to a Council incentive designed to bring empty properties back into use.
The property had been empty for nearly four years following the owner’s move to a care home before she took advantage of the Council’s Repair & Rent scheme to bring the property back into use.
The initiative is designed for people without the confidence or capacity to manage a renovation themselves and allows for an interest-free loan of up to £50,000 per unit, with 20 per cent of this is offered as a non-repayable grant.
As part of the agreement, a local estate agent manages the schedule of works, employment of trades, renovation and subsequent rental of the property.
Then, following the works, the loan is repaid from the rental income generated by the property. Repair & Rent is designed to help tackle homelessness and properties renovated through this scheme are let directly to a homeless family on the Council’s waiting list.
In this case, there were a number of issues required sorting before the house was inhabitable again, including a complete re-wiring, a new roof, and fully upgraded central heating.
As a result of the scheme, the house has now undergone a full renovation with a new bathroom and kitchen as well as some new windows, doors and carpets. A family has recently been able to move into the property.
Speaking during this year’s Empty Homes Week, a national initiative designed to shine the spotlight on a crucial issue of the current housing crisis, Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Cooperative Development and Communities, said: “The revamped and improved Repair and Rent offer to landlords is a crucial piece of weaponry in our fight against the housing crisis and I’m pleased to see it used to good affect here.
“We have a clear need for additional homes, and we need them as soon as possible. Through our empty homes strategy, set out in the Plan for Homes, we are looking at every avenue available to help bring unused properties back into occupation.
“Our housing team already works throughout the year to address some of the city’s most difficult long term empty properties. I would encourage any landlords or owners of vacant homes to contact us for guidance and support on returning their properties to productive use.”
Other empty homes initiatives available include:
Empty Homes Financial Assistance: Landlords can apply for a loan of up to £50,000 per unit, which is repaid via subsequent rental income, providing that the empty home owner undertakes to project manage the renovation themselves.
Sales Service: Our Sales Service helps empty home owners by helping to advertise their property to developers and by organising open house style viewings. Any interested parties can then put forward sealed bids within one week of the viewing. This can be a very quick and efficient option and can save estate agent fees.
More information on our empty homes team is available at plymouth.gov.uk/emptyhomes
