Local councils across England offer grants of up to £25,000 to support homebuyers and landlords in bringing empty homes back into long-term use. However, data obtained through Freedom of Information requests reveals that two out of every five applications submitted since 2020 have been unsuccessful.
The findings raise questions about the accessibility and effectiveness of schemes designed to tackle the housing shortage by unlocking idle stock.
Shadow housing secretary James Cleverly has criticised Labour for “standing by as too many existing homes go unused,” arguing that the party has deepened the housing crisis by scrapping the New Homes Bonus — a scheme that rewarded councils for bringing empty properties back into use.
He also warned that the government’s approach to second home taxation could backfire. “The council tax raid on second home owners,” he said, “will incentivise local authorities to leave homes empty,” noting that in some areas, the revenue directly funds empty homes grants.
These discretionary grants, introduced by selected councils in 2018, are designed to support landlords in restoring vacant properties and to help first-time buyers take on homes in need of repair. According to Freedom Of Information data, awards range from £1,500 to £25,000, depending on the extent of the renovation.
Despite widespread availability, uptake of the Empty Homes Grant remains limited across the 30 local authorities contacted, with most awarding only a few dozen grants — even in areas facing thousands of long-term vacant properties.
In Cheshire West and Chester, a Labour-led council with an estimated 2,300 empty homes, just six grants have been issued since 2020, averaging £1,730 each. The council acknowledged a “decline in interest and uptake,” but said it had taken action to improve the scheme’s visibility and appeal.
A council spokesman said: “It was not possible to completely eliminate all empty homes” as properties naturally become vacant for long periods “due to normal life events like death, moving into a care facility or a relationship breakdown”.
In Rhondda Cynon Taf, a Labour-led council in Wales that introduced a council tax premium on second homes last year, only 54 out of 186 applications for empty homes grants have been approved to date.
Despite the low approval rate, the council told The Telegraph that 445 vacant properties have already been returned to use through alternative initiatives, with a further 95 expected to follow pending final approvals.
Several councils have chosen to allocate revenue from second home tax surcharges directly into funding these grant schemes, aiming to tackle long-term vacancy and boost local housing supply.
Dumfries and Galloway Council, led by the SNP, confirmed that £50,000 of the £1 million generated through second home tax premiums last year was allocated to recruit an empty homes officer. The council reported spending £200,000 on 10 property restoration grants during the same period, with plans to increase the budget to £300,000 by 2026.
A spokesman said: “Independent data shows a direct correlation between dedicated staff resource and the number of homes returned to occupancy.
“The scheme continues to attract interest from property owners, and we will work with all those eligible to assist with the application process.”
Mr Cleverly argues: “Labour is not only failing to deliver the new homes they promised, but also standing by as too many existing homes go unused.
“In fact, Labour is abolishing the New Homes Bonus, which rewards councils with extra funding for getting long-term empty homes back into use.”
In a December announcement, the Ministry of Housing confirmed plans to phase out the New Homes Bonus — a scheme that rewards councils for boosting local housing supply — by April 2026.
Mr Cleverly said: “With the council tax surcharge, councils will actually be incentivised to keep homes empty.”
In Wirral, where no single party holds overall control, the empty homes grant scheme had shown promising results before being closed to new applicants in April. A council spokesperson cited “efficiency savings across the council” as the reason for the shutdown.
Over the past five years, the council approved all 250 applications submitted, investing £1.1 million in restoring neglected properties. Still, official figures indicate that more than 1,700 long-term vacant homes remain in the borough.
A spokesman said: “We will continue to look at opportunities for bringing empty properties back into use and are keen to explore how this ambition could support the council’s homelessness strategy.”
Brent Council, under Labour leadership, has invested £3 million in empty home refurbishment grants since 2020 — more than any other local authority surveyed. The scheme, which covers up to 70% of renovation costs, has supported 83 successful applications out of 111 submitted.
Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson credited the grant programme as a key factor in Brent’s housing delivery record, noting it contributed to the borough achieving the second-highest number of new homes across London over the past ten years.
She proudly said “The council proactively contacts property owners, providing clear guidance and hands-on support to help bring empty homes back into use.”
The patchy success of empty homes grant schemes across England has prompted concerns over their accessibility. In Rochford, a Conservative-led council, not a single grant application has been approved since the programme launched in 2022, according to Freedom of Information data.
The council reported that 114 properties in the area have stood empty for over a year, but insisted it “remains proactive in offering advice and assistance to help bring these properties back into use.”
A spokesperson for a landlords group, said: “Local authorities are confronted with the challenge of continuously rising waiting lists for social housing, while there are vacant properties that could easily be utilised to accommodate those in need.
“It is imperative for local authorities to effectively employ their staff and funding to proactively restore these homes to use.
“Additionally, certain councils do not prioritise enforcement or the utilisation of available grants, thereby increasing the burden on landlords and owners of second homes.”
Tom Hunt, speaking on behalf of the Local Government Association — the body representing local councils — stated: “Tackling long-term empty homes in our communities is a major issue that councils are working to address.
“They represent a missed opportunity to provide housing for those in need.
“Councils share a collective ambition to tackle local housing challenges and bring properties back into use.
“Providing grants to owners of long-term empty homes is just one way in which councils can proactively address empty homes. However, local government must be sufficiently empowered and funded to carry out work on this area.”