The Council wishes to work with the owners of empty homes in the Borough to enable them to be brought back into use. An empty property is a wasted asset for the owner, who could receive income from either selling the property or by letting it, for people in need of housing, and for local residents who have to put up with any problems an empty property creates.
The Council’s Empty Homes Strategy aims to minimise the number of empty homes in the Borough, which will ease pressure on the housing stock and reduce any opportunity for petty crime and vandalism, by offering owners assistance in one of two ways:
- offering advice on how the property can be best be reoccupied, and
- leasing the property to Downland Housing Association Limited, from whom you would receive a regular income. The Association would be prepared to manage the property on your behalf, letting it to a family in need of housing.
Advice
The Council can put you in touch with prospective buyers. Should you wish to rent your property yourself and would prefer not to use a letting agent, tenants from the Council's register can be carefully chosen for you.
Private Sector Leasing Scheme
The Council has joined forces with Downland Housing Association and introduced a Private Sector Leasing Scheme. This will remove any management worries you may have and will guarantee you a regular income for the duration of the lease.
Downland Housing Association will;
- select the tenants,
- pay for building insurance,
- maintain the internal decoration and repair of the property,
- pay the lease premium quarterly in advance, even if the property is empty, and
- arrange for annual gas servicing (if appropriate).
Compare the income you would receive each year from a letting agent to the income you would receive from Downland Housing Association;
| Letting Agent |
| Income |
Expenditure |
| Rent |
£ 8,400.00 |
Commission @ 15% |
£ 1,260.00 |
| (£700.00 per month) |
Insurance |
£ 300.00 |
| |
|
Repairs |
£ 500.00 |
| |
|
Gas safety check |
£ 50.00 |
| |
|
Decoration |
£ 500.00 |
| |
|
Heating service |
£ 100.00 |
| Total |
£ 8,400.00 |
Total |
£ 2,710.00 |
| Landlord's income £5,690.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Private Sector Leasing Scheme |
| Income |
Expenditure |
| Rent |
£ 8,400.00 |
Management costs |
£ 1,400.00 |
| (£700.00 per month) |
Commission @ 15% |
£ - |
| |
|
Insurance |
£ - |
| |
|
Repairs |
£ - |
| |
|
Gas safety check |
£ - |
| |
|
Decoration |
£ - |
| |
|
Heating service |
£ - |
| Total |
£ 8,400.00 |
Total |
£ 1,400.00 |
| Landlord's income £7,000.00 |
Each table assumes that the property remains occupied for the whole year. If there is no tenant for a period of six weeks, the income from a letting agent will be reduced to £4,640.00. This figure will be reduced further if costs associated with removing tenants and recovering unpaid rent are incurred.
The income from Downland Housing Association remains at £7,000.00.
Any self-contained accommodation in a good state of repair and in reasonable decorative order will be considered for this scheme. Ideally, it should be unfurnished, but preferably with curtains and carpets.
Contacts
For general enquiries on the benefits of the Council’s Empty Homes Strategy and grant aid available, please contact:
Chris Stagg, Housing Improvements Manager
Tel: 01256 845252
Mailto:chris.stagg@basingstoke.gov.uk
For advice on tenancy conditions and tenancy rights, please contact:
Kathy Clapson, Assistant Manager (Needs and Nominations)
Tel: 01256 845231
Mailto:kathy.clapson@basingstoke.gov.uk
For advice on the management service provided by Downland Housing Association Limited, please contact:
Jane Jones, Housing Co-ordinator
Tel: 0845 688 7717
Mailto: jane.jones@downland.org.uk