Funding boost provides additional help to tackle empty properties

A funding boost from Dover District Council means that increased loans are available to transform empty properties into homes in the area, topping up loans available from Kent County Council’s No Use Empty Scheme from £25k to £40k per home. 

The No Use Empty Scheme is administered by KCC, working in partnership with district councils across Kent. This latest news means that the scheme will be able to provide additional top up loans from DDC of up to £15,000 per home for owners in Dover District who obtain a KCC No Use Empty loan. 

An agreement with KCC to administer the additional loans follows DDC Cabinet’s approval of a revised Housing Assistance Policy in July.  The revised Housing Assistance Policy included a range of grants and loans to help people across the district with repairs and improvements to their homes. 

Additional DDC funding for each project will be restricted to a maximum of five dwellings. The total budget for DDC’s additional funding scheme is £300,000. 

Cllr James Back, DDC Cabinet Member for Built Environment said: "We’re delighted to be able to increase the range of financial assistance available for housing. This important scheme will help to bring more empty properties back into use, and will help to increase housing supply and support regeneration for the district’s future."

Steve Grimshaw, Programme Manager for No Use Empty at KCC said: "No Use Empty is continually innovating to try and find the best ways to bring long-term empty homes back into use. The top up loans are an illustration of this, and we are very encouraged to see DDC allocate a significant £300k to help create homes."

For more information on loans and grants available from DDC visit the DDC Private Sector Housing page, or for more information on the KCC No Use Empty Scheme go to www.no-use-empty.org.uk.