Landlord offering £10,000 for 10 years for empty homes

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Development

A Hereford-based housing association has received funding to bring 15 empty homes back into use, and will pay £10,000 for a 10 year lease.

Marches Housing Association - which manages around 2,900 homes - has been awarded £87,000 by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) for the scheme, and is now looking for people who own properties that have been empty for six months or more.

Marches is working in partnership with Herefordshire and Forest of Dean District councils to identify properties that could benefit from the scheme.

If selected, owners may see up to £30,000 invested in their properties to bring them up to the decent homes standard, as well as a one off £10,000 payout. In return, Marches will lease the property for 10 years, collect all rents and take responsibility for maintenance.

Amanda Newman, Development Officer at Marches, said: “We are delighted to have been successful in winning the funding; we are looking for 9 properties in Herefordshire and 6 in the Forest of Dean.  Empty properties attract crime and are a waste of housing when thousands of families need a home – they are no use empty.  This grant will mean that we shall be able to deliver more new homes in areas where they are needed most."