Accessibility | Site Map | H | a a a

forecast Daventry

Empty homes

There are around 740,000 empty homes in England. Every year about 300,000 homes become empty and a similar number are returned to use. Some however stay empty for a longer time.

There may be genuine reasons why some properties are empty, examples include, renovations, properties awaiting probate following the death of the owner and homes for sale or let. However, long term empty properties are both a wasted resource and can seriously impact on the locality - the council is committed to bringing these properties back into use.

Bringing an empty home back into use is almost always a change for the better. Most significantly it provides a home but neighbours and the community also see local improvements; they gain a new neighbour, and often lose an eyesore. More homes available for renting will provide more choice for tenants and reduce the housing waiting list.

Daventry district statistics (16/05/12)

Total no. of properties in Daventry district	32,786
Total no. of long term empty properties	270
No. of properties exempt from enforcement action	73
No. of property cases being investigated	94
Total no. of properties brought back into use	360

Report an Empty Property

View our Empty Homes Strategy

View the Empty Homes Agency website

Assistance Available

Grants and Loans

Daventry District Council is able to offer grants and loans for properties requiring small-scale adaptations, improvements or repairs in order to make the property safer, more suitable or bring it back into use. For more information, please contact us.

HomeChoice (Choice Based Lettings)

HomeChoice is the Council's scheme for renting properties across the district. Landlords benefit from the scheme by having access to a continuous stream of prospective tenants to choose from and reduce the chances of lost rental income by having their property sat empty. Private landlords are welcome to advertise their property for £70.00 + VAT.

Advice and Assistance

The Empty Homes Officer is available to provide advice and assistance to homeowners with long term empty properties (empty for more than 6 months) to bring them back into use through repairs, renting or selling the property.

Enforcement Action

The Council has enforcement powers that it may use as a last resort to bring long term empty properties back into use. These powers include Empty Dwelling Management Orders and Compulsory Purchase Orders. However, the Council prefers to work with homeowners to bring their property back into use.

Reduced VAT Rate

Since 1^st January 2008, renovations and alterations to residential properties that have been empty for at least two years will be eligible for a reduced VAT rate of 5%. A builder will have to pay the full rate of VAT on materials, but would charge the house owner 5%. It is then up to the builder to re-claim the remaining 15%. It is not the case that the builder will charge 20% then say that it is up to the property owner to claim the 15% back.

The builder should be familiar with the legislation and will know if the incentive applies to a project before commencing the work.

Further information on this reduced rate can be found in Section 8 of Public Notice 708 – VAT: Buildings and Construction, available from the National Advice Service on 0845 0109000 or downloadable from the HMRC website

Contact us