Free advice for empty home owners

Published: Thursday, 5th October 2017

Residents who own empty homes are invited to attend a free drop-in event to help bring their property back into use in support of Empty Homes Week 2017 starting on 16 October.

Empty properties not only cost their owners money for maintenance, Council Tax and insurance, they can affect the surrounding neighbourhood sometimes acting as a magnet for anti-social behaviour.

But Sevenoaks District Council is taking action to help bring these properties back into use and in the past nine years has helped to return over 125 homes to good use.

The free event takes place from 1.30pm to 4pm on Wednesday 18 October at Sevenoaks District Council’s offices in Sevenoaks. No booking is necessary, residents can just turn up for advice.

Sevenoaks District Council’s Empty Homes Officer and an expert from KCC’s ‘No Use Empty’ scheme will be on hand to give free and impartial advice. Support available includes interest free loans worth up to £25,000 and how to best market an empty home for those considering selling.

Cllr Michelle Lowe, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, says: “Everyone wins when an empty home is brought back into use. The homeowner makes money instead of putting their hand into their pocket to pay the bills and a family will get a much needed local home.”

“This free event gives empty property owners access to all the advice and resources they need to help bring their homes back into use.”