£50m to reboot empty homes in Wales

The Welsh government has announced a new scheme to tackle the rise of empty homes, as young people struggle to find property in their hometowns.

Yesterday Climate Change Minister Julie James announced £50m to go towards the National Empty Homes Grant scheme which could bring up to 2,000 properties back into use.

The programme will run over the next two years, building on the success of a the Valleys Taskforce scheme which invested £12m in restoring empty homes.

Julie James said: ‘I am pleased to announce the allocation of £50m that will be used to bring more empty properties in Wales back into use.

‘The latest statistics show there are more than 22,000 long-term empty properties in Wales. These are a wasted housing resource that can become a blight on our communities.

‘The funding announced today will be used to reduce the number of empty properties and, therefore, increase housing supply.’

Grants of up to £25,000 will be available to home owners and prospective home owners to renovate homes, remove significant hazards and improve energy efficiency.

Homes must have been registered as empty within the past 12 months to qualify and properties applicants must live in the property following the work completion for a minimum of five years.

Grants will be administered alongside other schemes, such as the Leasing Scheme Wales, which aims to help tenants access more affordable property by offering incentives to property owners.

It’s hoped the schemes will to help to tackle a ‘brain drain’ as young people are being pushed out of the country, as high quality jobs and property is easier to access elsewhere.

Politicians have worried this could lead to a decline in the Welsh language and lead to economic problems as the population ages.

Registered Social Landlords, local authorities and community housing groups will also be offered funding to revitalise any empty properties they own.

Photo by Ion (Ivan) Sipilov