Do you own an empty property?
Leaving your property empty could be losing you more than you think. In Manchester,
for instance, it could be over £8,000 a year! And it may cost you even more if you have
to repair damage caused by vandalism or break-in.
If it's been empty for more than two years, the council tax you have to pay goes up
further, depending on which council tax band it's in.
Since April 2013, council tax
exemptions and discounts for empty properties and second homes no longer apply in
many areas.
Bringing your property back into use could
• Generate rental income
• Increase the value of your property
• remove or lessen your council tax liability
 Minimise the potential for vandalism and squatters
• Give you peace of mind!
What are your options?
Sell it
You can sell through an estate agent, at an auction, or by advertising the property
yourself. Get your property valued by a professional property surveyor or estate agent. If
you can't afford the work, or it's difficult to organise, think about selling to a builder or
developer at a lower price.
Rent it out
If your property is ready to move into, you can rent it out. You could do that yourself or
use a letting agency. Renting through an agency can take out some of the hassle and
responsibility, although you have to pay for the service. Or you might be able to get a
housing association to take it on.
Housing associations
Councils in Greater Manchester currently have funding available to bring empty
properties back into use at affordable rents through their Empty to Plenty campaign. A
housing association might be able to help you with the cost of repairs if you are willing to
lease the property to them. The association would take a proportion of the rent,
depending on the cost of repairs and the length of the lease. At the end of the lease, the
property will be handed back to you. Alternatively, some housing associations may be
willing to purchase the property from you. Contact you local council to find out more.
Leave it empty
If you decide to leave your house empty, remember that you will still be responsible for
payment of council tax, insurance and utility standing charges. You are also responsible
for the security of the property, and must maintain both the property and the land around
it to a minimum standard. Failure to maintain your empty house may cause your local
council to take legal action through ‘voluntary acquisition’, or in more serious cases
through an empty dwelling management order (EDMO), or a compulsory purchase order
(CPO).
Get more advice
Space for local contact details