Apply for Empty homes assistance

Empty Homes Financial Assistance

Assistance amount payable and related issues:

1. If the property has been empty for a period of 12 months or more funding is available to undertake works to meet the Council’s Accreditation Standard. The maximum assistance available is £10,000 throughout a 10 year period. The landlord must fund the cost of any works that exceed the maximum level of assistance available.
   The property will be inspected by a member of the Housing Standards Team who will produce a schedule required to bring the property up to the scheme standard. Further details of which are available at:
   https://www.chichester.gov.uk/media/15857/Landlord-accreditation-standards/pdf/Landlord_accreditation_standards_.pdf
2. Financial assistance will be approved once a minimum of two reasonable and competitive quotes have been received and accepted.
3. Financial assistance will only be paid once the works have been completed to a satisfactory standard, a satisfactory invoice has been received, and the supporting documentation has been submitted: Gas Safety Certificate, Electrical Installation Condition Report, floor plan including location of fire precautions, Portable Appliance Test (PAT) and Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
4. In certain circumstances the Council may make interim payments on satisfactory completion of a particular phase of the works and production of an acceptable invoice.
5. Works that are (or ought to be) covered by buildings insurance will not be eligible for assistance.

Eligibility criteria:

1. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
2. Applicants must hold a freehold or leasehold interest in the property. For leasehold interests there must be at least 10 years remaining on the contractual term of the lease and it must contain the necessary repairing obligations and consents permitting the landlord to carrying out the works.
3. Landlords must put forward their properties for a full inspection and assessment under the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System and the additional standards that apply under the Scheme.
4. Empty Homes Assistance cannot be paid for works that have previously been carried out with the aid of another grant funded Council scheme if completion of those initial works were within the last 10 years.

Property criteria:

1. The property must be a privately owned residential dwelling that requires works to meet the scheme standards.
2. Private ex-commercial properties (such as potential flats above shops, shops converted to houses etc.) may be considered, providing 'change of use' has been granted if required.

You will need the following documents ready to upload in image, PDF, Word or Excel file format less than 5MB in size:

• Two competitive quotes for all relevant works with any necessary plans and specifications
• Details including fees of any preliminary services e.g. technical survey report (if applicable)
• Supporting documentation to show you can complete this application on behalf of a Company owned property

For Empty Homes Assistance, please note you will be required to provide proof of your lettings agreement before any funding will be paid.

Your National Insurance number will be required to complete the application unless you are applying as a Company.

Terms and conditions:

Housing terms and conditions