To mark National Empty Homes Week (9 – 15 March), East Suffolk Council is reminding residents about the support available to help get long term empty properties back into use.
So far in the financial year 2025/6 the Council has helped bring 20 long term empty properties back into use, with 25 returned to use for the previous year. In the district there are currently 652 long term empty properties, with the number of properties standing empty for ten or more years currently standing at 106.
Each year the Council reviews the number of empty properties and works closely with their owners to bring them back into use – either by providing financial support to get them ready for the housing market or giving them guidance on how they can sell or rent out their home.
Housing Renovation Grants of up to £15,000 can help owners to carry out improvement works to get the property ready for letting out to tenants. This funding can help cover costs such as electrical rewiring, installing first time central heating, or remedying significant damp or structural issues. To keep the grant, property owners must live in the home for 20 years or if they are renting it out, it must be charged at Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates for 15 years, with council-referred tenants taken for the first two years.
Owners of properties in areas surrounding Sizewell could benefit from two grants to help them to provide accommodation to those working at Sizewell C. Grants of up to £7,000 per bedspace are available and can cover costs including structural works, electrical wiring, heating installation, windows and doors, plumbing, installing kitchen and bathroom facilities and additional parking. The grant will also support the creation of Homes of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) to licensable standards. Minor Works Grants can provide up to £3,000 per bedspace for people wishing to repurpose an unused bedroom within an existing home into accommodation for a Sizewell C worker. Additional Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) funding of up to £2,500 is also available where a property holds a valid EPC certificate of a rating D-G.
The Council provides support to empty homeowners if they are looking to sell by seeking valuations from local estate agents and working with local auctioneers who can offer reduced rates. Landlords can also be referred to East Suffolk Lettings which can help with renting properties and managing tenancies on the condition that rent is charged at LHA levels or within 10%, with a financial incentive offered as part of the sign-up process.
Cllr David Beavan, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for Housing said: “Empty homes are wasted resources that burden both taxpayers and local communities. In the midst of a housing crisis, it is unsustainable to allow vacancy rates to rise when these buildings could be repurposed to provide the much-needed homes our communities desperately need.
“While we are penalising owners of empty properties through long-term empty Council Tax premiums of up to 300% due to the impact they cause, we want to encourage owners to get in touch with our Private Sector Housing team so that we can support them. It’s positive to see 20 homes brought back to life with the help of our team and we hope that by raising awareness of the problem, we can encourage more property owners to come forward.”