Funding still available from empty property grant scheme

There’s still time for Bridgend county borough residents to apply for funding from a grant scheme aimed at helping property owners and first time buyers to get empty properties back into use.

Through the Valleys Taskforce Empty Homes Grant, you can apply for grants of up to £20,000 for renovations and up to £5,000 towards energy measures. The deadline for final applications to the scheme is February 2021.

Applicants must be owners or prospective owners who intend to occupy the empty home as their main residence for a minimum five-year period from the date of the certification of grant-aided work. The property must be in the Valleys Task Force area of Bridgend and have remained unoccupied for a period of six months prior to purchase and at the time of the grant application.                                                                                      

Applicants are required to make a mandatory 15 per cent contribution of the total cost of eligible works but this will be waived for applicants in financial hardship.

Residents who are considering moving into an empty property still have time to apply for this grant funding. Empty private sector homes can be a missed opportunity to provide much-needed affordable housing for residents as well as being a financial expense to the owners and the council.

The Valleys Taskforce Empty Homes Grant supports the delivery of the council’s and Welsh Government’s priority of returning empty properties into use in the Valleys areas of Bridgend county borough to help regenerate communities, provide more choice and suitable accommodation for residents.

Cabinet member for wellbeing and future generations Dhanisha Patel

Earlier this year, the Welsh Government awarded funding of £4.5m for the second phase to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council which delivers and manages the scheme for the area.

 

In Bridgend county borough, there were eight successful applications to the scheme during its first phase between October 2019 and March 2020.

 

For more information, visit the Welsh Government website about the empty homes grant.