Homeowners and landlords across Liverpool are being offered thousands of pounds to bring long term empty properties back into use, as part of a major push by the city council to tackle housing need and neighbourhood blight.
Liverpool City Council has launched a £7.3million Empty Homes Grant scheme, offering grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 to help renovate properties that have been standing empty for at least a year.
The scheme is aimed at unlocking homes that already exist but have fallen out of use, turning them into safe, decent places to live for people who are registered on the city’s housing waiting list. This in turn will help towards creating strong neighbourhoods and instil a sense of belonging and community pride as families settle into their new homes.
Under the scheme, owners who receive funding will be required to bring properties up to a legally compliant standard, removing serious hazards such as unsafe wiring or gas faults and dealing with excess cold. In return, the homes will be made available as affordable rented accommodation, helping families who are struggling to find somewhere to live offering them a chance of having a permanent home.
Council figures show that bringing empty homes back into use can be quicker and more cost effective than building new properties, while also improving the look and feel of streets affected by long term vacancy.
The grants form part of a wider approach to tackling empty homes, combining financial support for owners who want to do the right thing with tougher enforcement action for those who allow properties to fall into serious disrepair.
Applicants must meet eligibility criteria, including owning the property, having no outstanding council tax arrears, and ensuring the property has been empty for at least 12 months. The scheme is expected to run for up to three years, or until funding is fully allocated.
As part of the Empty Homes Grant scheme, Liverpool City Council will secure tenancy nomination rights on properties brought back into use with public funding.
This means that, once renovated, homes will be offered to households on the council’s housing waiting list for a set period at Local Housing Allowance rates. The approach ensures that grant funding delivers a clear public benefit, helping families move into safe, decent homes more quickly while reducing pressure on temporary accommodation.
The Empty Homes Grant is part of Liverpool City Council’s wider housing strategy to increase the supply of affordable homes, reduce homelessness and improve housing conditions across the city.
Any property owners interested in taking part should email privatesector.housing@liverpool.gov.uk
Further information is available on the Liverpool City Council website HERE.
Cllr Hetty Wood, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Empty homes are a waste when so many people across our city are desperate for somewhere safe and secure to live.
“This grant scheme is about giving owners practical help to bring properties back into use, while making sure public investment delivers real benefits for local people.
“Every home we can bring back into use is a home that could help a family move out of temporary accommodation, reduce pressure on our housing services and improve neighbourhoods that have suffered from blight for far too long.
“We’re clear that support will go hand in hand with firm action where owners refuse to engage, because leaving homes empty simply isn’t acceptable when housing need is so high.”
