Grants and help for empty homes

Generous grants are available to help owners bring empty properties back into residential use. You could receive a grant covering up to 70% of the cost of the work.

In return, you agree with the council, or one of our partner housing association letting schemes, to take tenants for a period of five years, giving you a rental income from the property.

Empty properties depreciate in condition and value, and can become a target for vandalism, arson and squatters. We are committed to reducing the number of empty properties in Brent.

As an owner you may have to pay high insurance premiums and be charged a premium council tax rate of 200% if the property has been empty for more than two years.

We also have legal powers to take over a property which have remained empty for a long time.

Refurbishment grant

This can cover work to faulty and unsafe electrics, inferior heating systems, faulty windows which are providing very poor insulation, inadequate kitchens, and bathrooms that are very old.

It can also pay for work to provide additional bedrooms, subject to relevant planning and building control approval.

Conversion grant

This grant can help pay for converting a large empty home into smaller units or a commercial premises into residential properties. This is always subject to full planning consent.

Commercial grant

Grants for empty commercial properties can help towards the cost of conversion into residential units.

Who is eligible? 

To be eligible to apply you must be: 

• the owner of the freehold or leasehold of the property
• a UK citizen, or have the power of attorney to act on behalf of the owner of the property

What types of property are eligible?

Grants are available to improve houses, flats or commercial units that cannot be occupied because of disrepair such as damp, faulty wiring or rotten timbers. Grants can also be used for converting commercial properties to residential use.

Grant conditions

• The property must be empty and in Brent.
• When the works are completed, the property must be let to the council for a period of five years.
• The property must conform to planning and building control standards.
• The property must meet the council’s terms and conditions of letting. 

You could receive a grant to cover a percentage of the repair costs, or a maximum of £6,500 per potential occupant. Whichever figure is lower.
For residential properties the percentages are:

• 1 bedroom property - 50% of the repair costs
• 2 bedroom property - 60% of the repair costs
• 3 bedroom property or larger - 70% of the repair costs

A decision on what will be grant aided will only be made after our surveyor has visited the property.

For commercial properties we can provide grants of up to:

• £156,000 for four units or more
• £39,000 for each three bedroom unit
• £21,000 per annum guaranteed rental income
• 70% of the reasonable cost of works.

If you have an empty property and want to apply for a grant, or need help and advice to bring it back into use, email the Empty Property team: empty.property@brent.gov.uk or call 020 8937 2384.

A grant can be given to refurbish an empty property to a standard ready for letting. In return, the owner will sign an agreement with the council or one of our partner housing association letting schemes to take tenants for a period of five years.

Once you have signed and returned the application pack and works are complete, you will need to supply us with:

• gas and electrical certificates
• a final invoice
• a five-year lease agreement from your chosen housing managing agent

The housing association or council will pay you the rent. The rent is normally paid a month in advance and will be guaranteed throughout the terms of the lease.

You should send a copy of the final five-year agreement to your Empty Property Case Officer.

Either the Housing Association or the council will manage your property on your behalf. There is no charge for providing this service.

What type of properties are we looking for?

• Family-sized accommodation, for example with two and three bedrooms (but we will consider other sized properties).
• Each property must be self-contained
• We will not consider properties with shared cooking facilities.

Which letting agencies can I use?

You can use one the following agencies:

• Shepherds Bush Housing Group
• Genesis Housing Association
• Network Homes