Information for Owners of Empty Properties

Rushcliffe Borough Council is committed to bringing empty properties back into use, and does this through encouraging and supporting empty home owners, through its Empty Homes Strategy.

The Empty Homes Officer is here to work with owners, providing them with advice, support and assistance in returning their property to use. Enforcement action can also be considered where there seems to be no reasonable prospect of the property returning to occupation. This information sheet gives an outline of the Council’s strategy, and provides some options and useful information for dealing with empty homes.

Why does the Council get involved?

An empty property can have a detrimental effect on the surrounding area and community, as it is more likely to attract anti-social behaviour, pests and crime to a neighbourhood. They can also have a damaging effect on property values in the street or local area. The owners of empty properties often live elsewhere, and are unaware of the issues effecting the property and neighbours. In addition to this, there is acute housing shortage across the country, leading to an increased need to build on Greenfield sites. The Council believes that if you own a property, you also have responsibility for it.

The benefits of bringing a property back into use

Owning an empty property costs you money, whether this be through a mortgage, Council Tax or utility bills, house insurance or general maintenance and repair bills. If occupied, the property could provide a regular rental income which would cover such bills, or a capital sum if you wanted to sell it. Your property could also provide a valuable housing resource for someone in need in the Borough. Every property in the Borough brought back into use provides a home for somebody, and if left empty for significant periods of time, are more likely to attract squatters and anti-social behaviour, therefore costing you more money. There are a number of options available to owners of empty homes that would see their properties re-occupied.

Refurbishing the property

Whether to be occupied by you as the owner, put on the open market for sale or subsequently let on the rental market, bringing the property up to the Decent and Safe Homes Standard is one option available. In order to achieve this, there is help and assistance available with the following:

Reduced VAT on the refurbishment of Empty Homes

There are a number of Tax breaks available for people refurbishing empty homes, converting property from office space to residential accommodation and for flats above shops. For more information, call HM Revenue & Customs national advice service on 0845 010 900, or 0845 9000 444. Our Empty Homes Officer can also offer help and guidance on these.

Planning Advice

If you decide to undertake a refurbishment or major works to the property, you may need to get building control approval or planning permission. It can be worthwhile getting advice from the Council’s planning team prior to work commencing, or prior to submitting a planning application. Information on planning guidelines, pre-planning advice and the application process can be found on the Council’s website, or by contacting the Planning Department directly on 0115 981 9911.

Letting the property

You could use a managing agent or let a property privately yourself. For more information and advice on letting your property, contact:

Information from National Landlords Association

Information from Association of Residential Lettings Agents

Selling the property

You could sell the property through an estate agent, at auction or by advertising the property yourself. The empty homes officer also holds a list of investors in the Borough, who are interested in privately purchasing property. A private sale can also reduce the cost of agent and advertising fees.

Enforcement

The Council’s aim is to assist and support owners and encourage them to bring their properties back into use voluntarily where possible. However, some properties are left empty for long periods of time, and can be poorly maintained and result in negative effects to their neighbourhoods and communities. As a result, the Council’s Environmental Protection Team has powers to deal with properties which have a detrimental effect on their neighbours and local areas.

Properties will be considered for enforcement action on a case by case basis, and where all other options and alternatives to encourage the owner to return their property to use have been exhausted.

For further information, to arrange a meeting or to arrange a free assessment of your empty property, please contact the Empty Homes Officer on:

Telephone: 0115 914 8314 

Email: emptyhomes@rushcliffe.gov.uk

Write to: Rushcliffe Borough Council, Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 7YG