Help may be available to bring your empty property back into use.
Long-term empty homes
We classify homes that have been recorded as empty for more than 6 months as ‘long-term empty’.
We aim to reduce the number of long-term empty homes in the borough and bring them back into use by taking a proactive approach. We will support owners to help return their empty properties back into use or to redevelop them.
Returning empty homes back into use:
- helps to meet housing needs
- reduces the problems associated with vacant properties
In Elmbridge, over 2,000 households are currently on the Housing Register and over 90 homeless households are in temporary accommodation.
Our coordinated and sustainable approach can:
- deliver an increase in housing supply
- improve housing standards
- reduce the number of empty homes
Bringing empty homes back into use
We trace owners of empty properties and encourage them to bring their properties back into use.
Grants and loans
Discretionary grants and loans are available to cover the reasonable costs of the works necessary to bring the property back into use.
Cash incentive scheme
We offer a cash incentive scheme to encourage owners and landlords of empty properties in the borough to make their property available for long-term private rented accommodation.
An upfront cash payment of up to £4,000 for properties (excluding one-beds) will be made in return for a 12-month assured shorthold tenancy at the local housing allowance rates and a nomination to the property.
A further cash payment of £1,000 will be granted if the landlord maintains the tenancy for a further 12 months at local housing allowance rate.
For more information please contact pshousing@elmbridge.gov.uk.
Enforcement action
We may consider taking enforcement action where:
- we are unable to identify or contact owners
- owners are reluctant or unable to bring properties back into use
- there is an imminent risk to health and safety
We prioritise taking action against properties that have been empty for over 2 years.
Enforcement action includes:
- an Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO) which enables us to take over the management of an eligible empty property, to bring it back into use where it has been empty for over 2 years and is causing nuisance in the community
- an Enforced Sale which allows us to force the sale of a property to recover debts owed to the council that are registered as a charge on the property
- an Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO) which enables us to secure occupation and responsible management of some privately-owned houses and flats that have been empty for 2 years or more
- a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) which enables us to purchase and sell an empty property to provide housing accommodation or facilities connected to housing accommodation
For more information, see our strategy: