The Council's Empty Homes Strategy has been agreed and is available to view here:-

Introduction
Empty properties are a wasted resource particularly when there is a housing shortage in South Hams. Empty properties can contribute towards the degeneration of an area including undermining community spirit.  

The new strategy will lead to a range of tangible benefits for the local authority, the empty property owners, and the community:

• The local authority benefits from meeting the housing need of local people, reducing the need to build on Greenfield sites, generating additional Council Tax, and preventing empty properties from becoming the focus of anti-social behaviour.
• The empty-property owner benefits from the provision of support and advice on options for the re-use of their empty property, and possible financial assistance and support to turn their costly empty property into a valuable asset.
• The people living in South Hams benefit through improving the existing built environment, helping maintain safe attractive neighbourhoods, and preventing depreciation of property values.
• Regeneration and increased investment in areas will also provide a boost to the morale of local communities.
• A successful Empty Homes Strategy will also help provide more affordable housing, reducing pressure on existing housing stock.

By engaging positively with empty property owners the Council can also assist in the improvement of standards in the private rented sector through general advice and information as well as through enforcement where necessary.

Loan Assistance – Low cost finance

Purpose - To encourage and assist owners of non-decent empty properties to bring their properties back into use.

Eligible Work - Works of conversion, repair, or improvement to provide living accommodation to meet housing needs as identified by the Council’s Housing Advice Team.

Loan assistance will be made available to owners of empty properties when the following criteria is met:

• The applicant must have owned the property for at least 6 months
• The property must have been empty for at least 6 months (according to council tax records).
• The property must fail the decent homes standard
• Applicant should obtain Planning / Building Regulation approval for the agreed scheme if appropriate

Financial Arrangements - Wessex Home Improvement Loans will make an assessment of the landlord’s financial circumstances and the amount of loan available will depend on the outcome of this assessment.

All loans agreed will be on capital repayment terms only.

The minimum loan available is £1000. There is no limit on the number on loans available; however, the maximum loan value is £15,000 on any dwelling.

Should you wish to apply for assistance, or for further details, please contact the Environmental Health Housing Team at: environmental.health@southhams.gov.uk or telephone us on 01803 861234