Turn Empty Houses Into Homes

Bridgend County Borough Council is reminding local residents that interest-free loans of up to £25,000 are being offered by the Welsh Government to help turn empty properties into homes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The ‘Houses into Homes’ scheme makes loans available so that empty properties or commercial buildings can be brought back into use as residential accommodation for either sale or rent. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Loans are also available for the conversion of larger premises into flats. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Ceri Reeves, the council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “Since 2013, we have awarded 13 loans which have brought 25 units back into use, and we’re keen to raise further awareness of this scheme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The main stipulation is that the loan must be used to renovate, improve or convert a property which is then sold or rented out. The owners can’t do up a property and then live in it themselves. The property must be on the council’s empty homes register and have been vacant for a minimum of six months. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The loans are interest-free and have to be paid back within two or three years, depending on whether the property is sold or let.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​