Bridgend Council’s Cabinet is set to sign off on the county’s participation in a new Welsh Government-backed empty properties programme (pdf).
The £50million programme will run for the next two financial years, aiming to bring 2,000 empty homes back into use.
Councils will be allocated notional funding based on the number of long-term empty properties in their local authority each financial year; Bridgend notional funding is just over £1.24 million, with the council needing to provide 10% of this figure (£124,000) as match-funding
Grants of up to £25,000 will be available to bring residential properties that have been empty for a minimum of 12 months back into use. There are also eligibility requirements relating to energy efficiency measures and minimum contributions from applicants.
There has been criticism that the programme is a subsidy for property speculators and landlords, helping to prop up the property market.
While registered social landlords will be eligible for grants under the scheme, one of the conditions is that applicants will be expected to live in the property for a minimum of 5 years once work is completed. It’s unclear what happens if they don’t.
Rhondda Cynon Taf will be the lead authority in delivering the programme.
