Empty homes in Woking

Increasing the number of decent and affordable homes in the Borough is one of the Council's top priorities. We therefore take a pro-active approach to bringing empty properties back into use.

More detailed information on empty properties can be found on the Every Home Counts website, or in the Council's Empty Homes Strategy.

Advice and assistance for owners of empty properties

There are many reasons why homes become empty, therefore we offer a range of options to assist owners to bring their properties back into use. Because each case is different, we encourage owners to contact us to discuss their situation so an individual plan can be developed to bring their property back into occupation.

If you are an owner of an empty property and are not sure what to do with it, below are some options available for you.

Professional Renovation Advice

Our surveyors can provide free, professional advice on renovating a property, including a list of works required and an estimate of costs. We can also offer advice or assistance with the planning process, if you wish to go down this route.

Renovation project management

We can organise quotes for renovation, and project manage works required.

Loans and Grants

A range of financial assistance, including grants and low-cost-loans, is available from the Council and our partner Home Trust Loan.

Financial assistance is assessed on a case by case basis, and a bespoke package can be built around your needs. Please contact us to discuss further what assistance may be available.

Selling the property

The Council holds a list of investors who are interested in buying empty properties. If you are interested in selling your property, we will be able to put you in touch with these prospective buyers and potentially save you money on estate agent of auction fees.

Further information on how to sell an empty property can be found on the Every Home Counts website.

Letting the property through the Council

We offer two schemes for owners to let their properties, which provide owners of empty properties with a regular rental income and professional lettings service.

If your property requires renovation before it can be let, we may be able to offer a rental package complete with a grant and/or loan and renovation project management. Please contact us to discuss this option.

The Private Leasing Scheme

Through this scheme you can lease your property to the Council for a minimum of two years, guaranteeing you with rental income, paid annually and in advance, even if the property is empty. The Council will professionally manage the property and handle all responsibilities involved with letting - from tenant liaison to call outs and arrangement of repairs.

For more information visit the Private Leasing Scheme's webpage.

The Private Rented Scheme

Through this scheme the Council will introduce you to prospective tenants and arrange the tenancy agreement, property inventory and a bond in lieu of a deposit to cover up to one month's rent arrears and damages. No fees or commission are payable for this service and you will be under no obligation to accept anyone nominated by the Council.

For more information visit the Private Leasing Scheme's webpage.

Letting Privately

If the Council's schemes are not for you, then you could use a managing agent or become a private landlord and let the property to tenants yourself. It is extremely important that any prospective landlord is fully aware of all the responsibilities and obligations that should be met. There are a number of landlord organisations which can provide further in-depth information, including the National Landlords Association.

Further information on how to let your property can be found on the Every Home Counts website.

Enforcement

The Council has a number of legal powers to tackle empty properties, including powers to take over the management of the property or force a sale.

Whilst the Council is keen to work collaboratively with owners to re-occupy empty properties, where it is apparent that the owner has no intention of bringing the property back into use in a reasonable time frame, the Council can and will use legal action to re-occupy empty properties.

The decision to take further action will depend on the individual circumstances of the case and factors such as the length of time a property has been empty, the reason the property is empty and previous correspondence with the Local Authority. We therefore encourage all owners of empty properties to contact us to discuss how their property can be brought back into use, before legal action has to be used.

Further information on the legal powers available to the Council can be found on the Every Home Counts website.

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How do I report an empty property to the Council?

We encourage local people to report empty properties in the Borough, particularly those that have been empty for a long time.

To report an empty property please contact the Housing Enabling team, or visit the Every Home Counts website to report an empty property through an e-form.

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Buying an empty property

Due to data protection laws we are unable to provide members of the public with the name or contact details of empty property owners.

We do however hold a list of investors who are actively looking for a property to develop, which is shared with owners who are looking to sell their empty property. If you would like to be added to this list please email us your name, contact details and a short summary of the type of property you are interested in.

Another way to find current owners details is by contacting the Land Registry or by calling them on 0203 9276 8888. They can carry out a land registry search on the property, which may reveal the name of the legal owner, although some properties are not registered and there is a chance that they may be out of date. There is a £3.00 charge for the service.

It is also worth looking at the online Register of Planning Applications. When a planning application is made the owner's details (or an agent acting for them) are shown and this information is available to the public. Sometimes this may also give an indication as to why a property has remained empty; for example if the planning request has been refused and an appeal has been lodged.

More advice on how to buy an Empty property can be found on the Every Home Counts website.

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Contact us

If you would like more information about empty homes in Woking, please contact the Housing Enabling team on 01483 743836 or email housingenabling@woking.gov.uk