Empty Property Loans are loans being made available through the No Use Empty Initiative to enable the renovation and improvement of single properties or the conversion of empty properties into a number of units so that they are suitable for use as residential accommodation.
Persons and companies can apply for a loan if they already own an empty property or are considering buying an empty property.
Loans can be made available for properties that have been empty for at least six months or more.
No. We will consider applications for loans to convert empty commercial properties into residential accommodation. However it is very likely that you will need planning permission for the conversion and so you are strongly urged to contact the local planning department to discuss your proposals.
The maximum amount loan you can apply for is £25,000 per property or unit, up to a total maximum of £175,000. E.G. if you are applying for a loan to convert one building into four units the maximum loan you can apply for is £100,000. If you were applying for a loan to convert a property into ten units the maximum amount of loan would be £175,000. The actual amount of loan that will be approved will be dependent on the actual cost of the works, e.g. if the works are calculated to cost £10,000 this is the most the loan will be approved for.
You can either let the property/units or you can sell the property/units to a new owner.
Yes. All work must be carried out in accordance with any planning permissions or building regulation approvals made in respect of the property. Additionally the property/units must comply with the decent homes standard on the completion of the works. Further details about the decent homes standard are contained in the loans information booklet and on the No Use Empty website.
Yes:
- You must carry out the conversion/repair works within an agreed amount of time.
- The property/units must be either sold or let within a reasonable amount of time after completing the works.
- If the property/units are not occupied by March 2013 the loan will be cancelled.
- The loan must be repaid either on or before the date given to you when the loan is approved.
- You will also be required to sign a form to confirm that the property/units will be maintained in a satisfactory condition until the loan is repaid. A copy of this form will be sent to you if you decide to apply for a loan.
- A financial charge will be made on the property for the lifetime of the loan.
- More information about the conditions can be found in the loan information booklet, the No Use Empty website and from the No Use Empty team.
Yes. All loans approved must be secured by a financial charge being placed on the property. More information about how the loan will be secured can be found in the loan information booklet, or by contacting the No Use Empty Team
Yes. The district council will be asked to confirm if the works/conversion will require planning permission or building regulation approval. If these are required we will need confirmation from them that planning permission and/or building regulation approval has been granted. We will also ask the district for more information on the following:-
- How long the property has been empty
- What works are required to the property to achieve the decent homes standard
- How long the works/conversion is likely to take
- Any relevant information regarding persons applying for a loan
You will need to speak with your relevant Empty Property Officer responsible for the area in which your empty property is located. Please provide them with:
- Your name, address and contact details
- The address of the property for which you would like to apply for a loan
- A brief summary of the works to be undertaken
- The anticipated cost of the works
- How many units of accommodation the conversion/renovation works will provide upon completion
- If the property/units will be sold or made available for letting on completion of the works
- How the loan will be repaid
Please visit our Contacts page.
Alternatively, please telephone 03000 41 41 41 and give your details to a Customer Services representative who will pass your details on to the Empty Property Officer who will then contact you for further information in order to establish if we can be of assistance.
This will depend on what you intend to do with the property on completion of the works.
- If you are renovating a single property, which is to be sold, the loan must be repaid when the property is sold or two years from the date of the loan approval, whichever is the sooner.
- If you are converting a property into a number of units, which are to be sold on completion of the works, it is expected that the loan must be repaid on sale of the first unit, or two years, whichever is the sooner. However we will endeavour to arrange a mutually agreeable repayment schedule.
- If the property/units are to be made available for letting the loan must be repaid by March 2018, whichever is the sooner.
- All loans can be repaid earlier if the applicant wishes to do so.
All persons making an enquiry will receive a booklet, which explains in more detail the application procedure. The loan information booklet can also be downloaded from the No Use Empty website. Copies of the loan application form and all other documents that need completing by the applicant will be included with the loan information booklet.