South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 26/11/2012

Our figure for empty homes is half the national average but we want to bring more properties back into use and we are running a number of advice road shows for private landlords on how to breathe new life into a property. From lettings advice to applying for grants and loans, we can help.

We have already helped shopkeeper and landlord Dinesh Patel to convert a property in Kingswood by guiding him through the process to apply for two loans to renovate a home which had been left empty for over a year. We also found him a tenant, Vicki Moir, who will be spending her first Christmas in her new home thanks to the council scheme which works in partnership with landlords, housing associations and charities to help bring empty properties back in to use.

Watch our video about Mr Patel’s experience below or go to http://youtu.be/0D3tKCX-KXw

Cllr Matthew Riddle, Chair of the Adults and Housing Committee, said: “It is estimated that there are currently 720,000 long term empty homes in England, and the figure for South Gloucestershire currently stands at 432, which is half the national average.

“In the last two years, we have helped reduce the number of long-term empty homes by a quarter and we have had the lowest long term percentage of empty homes for six years running.

"South Gloucestershire Council worked hard in the last year to bring 213 privately-owned empty homes back into residential use. This is not only helping us to meet the district’s growing housing demand but is helping us to reduce homelessness. So if you have a property which is empty and you don’t know what to do with it then please visit our road shows or call us for further help and advice.”

Our free drop-in road show events for private landlords take place at:

• The Park Centre, High Street, Kingswood from 5.30pm to 7.30pm on Tuesday 27 November
• Ridgewood Community Centre, Station Road, Yate from 12pm to 2pm on Wednesday 28 November
• Patchway Hub, Rodway Road, Patchway from 12pm to 2pm on Thursday 29 November

At the road shows, property owners can find out how to:

• let your property through SG Homes, our lettings & property management agency
• Empty Homes grants or loans to carry out renovations or repairs
• advice on energy efficiency measures including The Green Deal
• how to sell your property

For more information about what help is available to landlords then please call 01454 865555 or visit www.southglos.gov.uk/emptyhomes for more information. Tell us about an empty property in your street by calling 01454 865565.

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