Download Empty Homes - Bournemouth Borough Council

Empty Homes
Useful information
• Homes from Empty Homes
Contact the empty homes officer at:
• Empty Homes Network
Town Hall
Customer Service Centre
St. Stephen’s Road
Bournemouth
BH2 6DY
• National Landlords Association
Opening times
Monday to Thursday: 9am – 4.30pm
Friday: 9am – 4pm
Advisory body regarding empty homes
Tel. 02031 350674
web: www.emptyhomes.com
Advisory body regarding empty homes
Tel. 08447 365 736
web: www.ehnetwork.org.uk
Help and advice for landlords
Tel. 020 7840 8900
web: www.landlords.org.uk
• Residential Landlords Association
Help and advice for landlords
Tel. 0845 666 5000
web:www.rla.org.uk
Tel. 01202 454893
email:
[email protected]
Website:www.bournemouth.gov.uk/housing
• Homes4Let
Tel. 01202 739973
email: [email protected]
web: www.homes4let.org.uk
• Unilet
Tel. 01202 966792
web: www.bournemouth.ac.uk/accommodation
• BCHA Leasing
Tel. 01202 410500
email: [email protected]
web:www.bcha.org.uk
EH LL 09/14
Information for owners
of empty residential
properties
What can I do
with my empty property?
Unlock the potential
in your empty home . . .
An empty home is a wasted resource both for you,
as the owner and for people in Bournemouth with
a housing need.
The benefits of bringing an empty home back into
use include:
If you own an empty property, we can help you to
bring it back into use. This leaflet explains some
of the options available to you; please visit our
website or speak to our empty homes officer if you
would like more information.
The first thing to remember is that you do not
have to keep an empty property; you can always
sell it. Speak to our empty homes officer for help
and advice if you are unsure how to proceed.
Renovating an empty home
If your property is empty and needs repair then
you may be eligible for an Empty Homes Grant to
improve your property and bring it back into use.
• an income from sale or rent
• peace of mind for you and security for the
property
• a potential increase in value if you wish to sell
at a later date
• Council Tax paid by tenants
• reduced risk of vandalism and squatters
• provide housing for local people
• increase the value of neighbouring homes.
Options available for
letting an empty home . . .
. . . through a letting agent:
Grants are available to owners of residential
properties that have been un-occupied for at
least six months, and the level of grant available
depends upon the size of the property.
One option available if you are thinking of
letting your empty home is to use Homes4Let, a
charitable letting agency set up by Bournemouth
Borough Council and the Borough of Poole.
In return, you will be expected to let the property
to council-nominated tenants for a set period
based on the amount of Grant provided.
The fees charged are less than those charged
by average letting agents and rentals are for a
minimum tenancy period of six months, which
can be renewed if the tenant is happy to do so.
Benefits include:
For more information please refer to our website.
• inventory inspections
• quick tenant occupation
• regular property inspections
• cheaper fees.
. . . through a Private Sector Leasing
Scheme:
This scheme involves a housing association
leasing your property from you for a minimum
period of three years.
Benefits of this scheme include:
• the housing association assumes full
management responsibilities
• you have a guaranteed rental income
• no introductory fee for renting the property
• vacant possession at the end of the lease and
your property returned in the condition it was
taken.
. . . through Bournemouth University:
Bournemouth has a huge student population and
Unilet is a scheme run by Bournemouth University
to house their students in the private rented
sector.
The main benefit of using this scheme is that you
will receive guaranteed monthly rent payments
for a 44-week period between September to July,
even if the property is empty.
Contact details for the agencies mentioned here
are on the back of this leaflet.