Empty homes

Please note: we are working with Capacity Grid on the empty homes review - if you have received a letter please use the button below to complete information requested

Empty homes restrict the supply housing and can blight communities, attracting anti-social behaviour and tying up the resources of housing authorities and the emergency services, which is why it is in everyone’s interest to bring a property back into use.

The only effective way to reduce the negative impact of an empty home is by making it available as somewhere to live.

Empty Homes Review

You may have recently received a review letter about the occupancy status of your property. In support of the Government’s initiative to tackle the shortfall in national housing we are currently undertaking a review of empty Council Tax properties.

The review is being managed on behalf of the Council by Capacitygrid. It will take 5-10 minutes to update the property records for your address and you will need the passcode numbers on your review letter to complete the form.

If you have any queries regarding the Empty Homes Review, including if you have misplaced your letter, please contact Capacitygrid direct: 0300 303 2076 (Lines are open between 8.45am and 5pm, Monday to Friday)

We can help  owners of empty properties in several ways

Financial help

Where a property has become empty through disrepair, we may be able to help find suitable funding, in partnership with the Parity Trust, who can offer low cost loans.

Help to become a private landlord

If you would like to generate an income from your property but don’t know how, we’re happy to provide advice on how to become a private landlord. This may include site visits to advise what repairs may be needed to a property to make it habitable state, as well as the documentation you may need, such as:

• Annual gas safety certificate
• Tenancy agreements
• Tenancy Deposit Schemes
• Energy Performance certificate.

Our team may also be able to find you a tenant.

Property Leasing

If you like the idea of earning an income from a property, but don’t want the responsibility of day-to-day management you may be able to lease the property through a housing association who would  pay you  a regular income (but the property will need to be in a habitable state). We can help you make contact with various housing associations that offer this service.

VAT Exemptions

A reduction in VAT to 5% is available on the cost of renovating dwellings that have been empty for two years or more.  This tax relief is known as Value Added Tax (Notice 708) - Section 8. To claim this discount you must employ a builder who is VAT registered; the builder will have to pay the full rate of VAT on materials, but would charge the house owner 5%. It is then up to the builder to re-claim the remaining 15%. More information is available from HMRC 

Advice

We offer simple, honest advice.  Whilst it is important to bring empty homes back into use, we understand there is a reason why the property is empty. We are happy to meet with you to discuss why it is empty what help you need to bring the property back into use.

• Contractors
  Maybe you don’t know where to start? We may be able to arrange contractors to provide you with quotes for repairs.
• Marketing
  We can offer you advice on how to sell the property on the open market. There is high demand for housing in Eastleigh.
• Finance
  We can direct you to the Parity Trust who can offer financial advice and explain what other is available. Parity Trust have worked us over many years to provide financial advice and assistance to our residents, with specially subsidised interest rates and products specifically aimed at owners of empty properties in the Borough.

Information on what to do if you rent a property in a state of disrepair