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Hastings Borough Council's Empty Homes Strategy has a programme of renovation grants to help owners bring empty homes back into use. It is aimed at helping owners refurbish unfit properties for rent.
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To apply for an empty homes grant, an applicant must have an owner's interest in all the land that the relevant works will be carried out. An owner's interest means a freehold interest or a leasehold interest where there is at least five years of the lease left to run.
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The grants will be targeted to owners who may lease their property to a housing association. All applicants must provide a certificate to say that they will let the swelling for five years. It is a condition of the grant that the property must have been empty for 12 months or longer. The property must not be sold within 10 years, otherwise the grant must be repaid.
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For individual dwellings in a property where more than one application for grant is being made, the amount of grant has been set at 50% of the cost of eligible works, up to a maximum of £20, 000. For a single property, the amount has again been set at 50% of the cost of the eligible works, up to a maximum of £30, 000.
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Eligible works are repairs that are needed to make the property fit for human habitation. This is known as the fitness standard and includes disrepair, dampness, structural stability, adequate natural lighting, ventilation and heating, water supply and satisfactory facilities and amenities. Works to achieve higher standards can be agreed. For example, works could include repairing/ renewing the roof or windows, installing an internal toilet and hot and cold water supplies, heating and thermal insulation. Works such as internal decoration, carpeting and the fitting of luxury kitchen units would not be eligible.
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If you wish to apply for an empty homes grant, you should first contact the Empty Homes Officer. The Empty Homes Officer will discuss in detail what options are available to bring the property back into use, as grant may not be the only option.
If your property meets the aims of the empty homes strategy and grant framework, a questionnaire will be sent for you to complete. The Empty Homes Officer will then arrange a visit with you to the property. A Technical Officer may also attend the visit.
Following the visit, a schedule of eligible works will be drawn up. You will then be asked to contact three builders to provide itemised estimates for the eligible works, which must be submitted to the Council. You will also need to provide confirmation of your ownership, planning consent (where applicable) and a certificate of intending letting for five years, together with an agreement giving the Council the right to nominate tenants over this period.
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Once a valid application for grant has been received, including all the relevant paperwork, the Council expect to formally approve the grant within one month.
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One year from the date the grant is approved.
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No - if works are carried out prior to grant approval, you may lose all or some of your grant entitlement.
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On completion of the works, a final inspection will take place to ensure that the final works comply with the original schedule. The property must now be fit for human habitation.
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The Council will pay the grant in a lump sum when the works are complete. You can request an interim payment by submitting the appropriate forms accompanied by an itemised contractor's invoice. The payment will be sent to you unless you authorise your contractor or other third party to receive it.
PLEASE NOTE THAT EMPTY HOMES GRANTS ARE DISCRETIONARY AND THE COUNCIL WILL PRIORITISE APPLICATIONS ACCORDING TO LOCATION, SIZE AND SUITABLILITY OF THE PROPERTY
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This page last updated: 08/01/2007