What this tool does

This tool looks at an empty or derelict property and sets out the funding routes that are worth chasing: council empty homes grants and loans, reduced rate VAT on renovation work, and the assistance schemes some councils run for bringing homes back into use. It gives you a starting point and a list of questions to ask, not a decision.

It is not an offer of funding and not a quote. Nothing here commits a council to paying anything.

When to use it

Use it if you own a property that has sat empty, if you have inherited a house you cannot afford to repair, if you are a landlord with a unit out of action, or if you are thinking of buying something derelict and want to know what help exists before you commit. It is most useful when a property has been empty for more than six months, because that is the point at which council schemes and VAT relief start to come into play.

It is less useful for a property that is simply between tenants, where almost nothing applies.

How it works

You answer a few questions: how long the property has been empty, your connection to it, what condition it is in, which nation it is in, and what you plan to do with it. The tool then matches that against the kinds of support that exist and explains which are worth pursuing, which are discretionary, and what to ask your council. Because empty homes support is decided council by council, the answer will often point you at a specific person to ring rather than a scheme to apply for.

Nothing you enter is saved, and you do not need to give your name or email to use it. Empty property funding, VAT rules and council tax premiums all change, so confirm anything that affects your sums with your council or on GOV.UK before you spend money.