Interest Free Housing Loans and Empty Homes Grants

Empty Property Landlord Loan

Loans are available to assist owners to carry out repairs or improvements to enable the property to be occupied. The loan will be available for owners who wish to sell or rent out the property. Loans can be used for work on residential properties or commercial buildings, which can include splitting a property into flats. Properties must be empty for a minimum of 6 months.

Empty property owners, charities, businesses and property developers can apply for an interest free loan. Applicants can apply for a loan up to £35,000 per unit, with a maximum of £250,000 per applicant. Loans will be repayable over 2 years if the property is sold, or 5 years if the property is let.

Empty Property Landlord Loan - Frequently Asked Questions

Empty Property Owner-Occupier Loan

These loans are available to owners who wish to occupy an empty property. The loan can be used to undertake repairs to enable an owner of an empty property to occupy it on completion of the work.  Work can include replacement of central heating boilers, repairs to electrics, work to remedy damp.

Applicants are able to apply for interest free loans of between £1,000 and £35,000, which will be repayable over a period of up to 5 years. 

Empty Property Owner-Occupier Loan - Frequently Asked Questions

Owner-Occupier Loan (Home Improvement)

These loans are available to assist owners currently occupying the home to undertake essential repairs to make it safe, warm and secure. Work can include replacement of central heating systems, repairs to electrics, repairs to remedy damp, renewal of defective windows and doors.

  Owner-Occupier Loan - Frequently Asked Questions

National Empty Homes Grant Scheme 

• Do you own a property that is currently empty? 

• Do you need help making it safe and secure before you move in?

• Are you thinking about buying an empty property to live in, but you will need help to bring it back into use? 

If yes to either of these questions and the property has been empty for 12 months or more, you could be eligibile for a grant of up to £25,000 to help bring your property back to life and improve its energy efficiency. 

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council is the Lead Local Authority for the National Empty Homes Grants Scheme and are delivering the grants on behalf of Welsh Local Authorities including the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

To enquire, please contact Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council:

• 01443 494712
• EmptyHomesGrant@rctcbc.gov.uk

Please note, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council is the main Data Controller for the personal data processed for the purposes of the National Empty Homes Grant Scheme.  However, some of the data will also be processed by the Vale of Glamorgan Council to facilitate the Scheme.

Please find links to the Privacy Notices below:

VAT Relief on Empty Properties

Bringing empty properties back into use can be costly particularly when extensive renovations are required. However, the Government has introduced a number of tax changes, which could potentially reduce costs. 

Additional information

There will be a loan application fee and you will be required to demonstrate your ability to repay the loan within a set period of time. All loans will be secured on the property and will take into account an existing mortgage. The mortgage and / or the loan cannot exceed 80 per cent of the property’s value. Loans are not available for general improvements or to extend an existing property. 

Energy Support 

Additional assistance is available to help make your home energy efficient, in support of Welsh Government's aim to tackle fuel poverty and poor energy efficiency in homes: 

• Warm Wales
  Warm Wales works with different services to make sure that homes are warm and safe.  You can get advice for what is best for your home by completing a referral form, or by phoning them on 0800 091 1786 (select option 1)
• Welsh Government Warm Homes Nest Scheme 
  Help to make your home more energy efficient! The Welsh Government Warm Homes Nest scheme makes Welsh homes warmer and more energy efficient places to live.Nest provides all households in Wales with free, impartial advice to help you reduce your energy bills, maximise your income, and lower your carbon footprint.You could also be eligible for free home energy efficiency improvements such as free home heating and insulation measures. Call freephone 0808 808 2244, Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm or visit the website gov.wales/nest to find out more.

   

   

• ECO4 Scheme (Energy Company Obligation including ECO4 Flex) 
  ECO4 is the latest Energy Company Obligation scheme administered by OFGEM. The aim of ECO funding is to help those who are living in fuel poverty and vulnerable to the risk of living in a cold home, and whose house is energy inefficient.  ECO funding pays for energy efficiency measures such as heating improvements and insulation to be installed, thereby helping to reduce the cost of heating the home and create carbon savings which is good for the environment too. Find out more   

   

   

• Green Homes Wales 
  Green Homes Wales is a Welsh Government initiative, managed by the Development Bank of Wales, designed to support eligible homeowners in making energy efficient improvements to their homes. The Scheme offers both interest free financing and fully funded expert support, helping you save money on energy bills and reduce carbon emissions. Find out more
• Citizen’s Advice (Energy Advice Programme) 
  Helping citizens across Cardiff & the Vale of Glamorgan, supporting those in or at risk of fuel poverty by providing energy advice. Please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133. Advisers are available 9am-5pm Monday to Friday (closed on bank holidays). You can also find out more via The Energy Outreach programme which creates an entry point for under-represented or underserved communities to access energy advice and other Citizens Advice services. Offering 1-2-1 advice time for every consumer – enabling to ask questions about a particular issue you might be struggling with.  Any complex energy advice requirements will be referred to an appropriate local service for specialist energy advice. Citizens Advice Cardiff and Vale 
• Solar Together South East Wales
  Would you like to lower your energy bills while producing your own clean electricity? Installing Solar Panels with battery storage is a smart investment, helping you take control of your energy use while reducing your carbon footprint. The Vale of Glamorgan Council is offering residents the opportunity to install high-quality solar panels at a competitive price. By generating your own electricity, you’ll rely less on the grid, cut your energy costs and help to reduce carbon emissions. Find out more