Empty Property Housing Loans and Empty Homes Grants

Empty Property Landlord Loan

Loans are available to assist owners to carry out repairs or improvements to enable the property to be occupied. The loan will be available for owners who wish to sell or rent out the property. Loans can be used for work on residential properties or commercial buildings, which can include splitting a property into flats. Properties must be empty for a minimum of 6 months.

Empty property owners, charities, businesses and property developers can apply for an interest free loan. Applicants can apply for a loan up to £35,000 per unit, with a maximum of £250,000 per applicant. Loans will be repayable over 2 years if the property is sold, or 5 years if the property is let.

Empty Property Owner-Occupier Loan

These loans are available to owners who wish to occupy an empty property. The loan can be used to undertake repairs to enable an owner of an empty property to occupy it on completion of the work.  Work can include replacement of central heating boilers, repairs to electrics, work to remedy damp.

Applicants are able to apply for interest free loans of between £1,000 and £35,000, which will be repayable over a period of up to 5 years. 

Empty Property Owner-Occupier Loan - Frequently Asked Questions

National Empty Homes Grant Scheme 

• Do you own a property that is currently empty? 

• Do you need help making it safe and secure before you move in?

• Are you thinking about buying an empty property to live in, but you will need help to bring it back into use? 

If yes to either of these questions and the property has been empty for 12 months or more, you could be eligibile for a grant of up to £25,000 to help bring your property back to life and improve its energy efficiency.   

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council is the Lead Local Authority for the National Empty Homes Grants Scheme and are delivering the grants on behalf of Welsh Local Authorities including the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

To enquire, please contact Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council:

• 01443 494712
• EmptyHomesGrant@rctcbc.gov.uk

Please note, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council is the main Data Controller for the personal data processed for the purposes of the National Empty Homes Grant Scheme.  However, some of the data will also be processed by the Vale of Glamorgan Council to facilitate the Scheme.

Please find links to the Privacy Notices below:

VAT Relief on Empty Properties

Bringing empty properties back into use can be costly particularly when extensive renovations are required. However, the Government has introduced a number of tax changes, which could potentially reduce costs. 

Additional information

There will be a loan application fee and you will be required to demonstrate your ability to repay the loan within a set period of time. All loans will be secured on the property and will take into account an existing mortgage. The mortgage and / or the loan cannot exceed 80 per cent of the property’s value. Loans are not available for general improvements or to extend an existing property. 

Leasing Scheme Wales

Leasing Scheme Wales provides landlords and owners of empty homes the opportunity to lease their property to the local authority for between 5 and 20 years.  

The scheme provides property owners with a guaranteed monthly rental income and a full property management service from the local authority, without the need to pay commission.  

As well as providing owners with a consistent income stream, it also helps local authorities to meet the housing demands in their area. 

The scheme is funded by the Welsh Government.

For more information, visit the Welsh Government website.