AMRP appointed National Empty Homes Loan Scheme partner for County Durham | Print |

The National Empty Homes Loan Fund is an innovative new scheme aimed at bringing some of England’s 710,000 empty homes back into use in a move that will help to tackle the country’s housing shortage.

 

 

There are more than 44,900 homes standing empty in the north east and AMRP are the nominated partner for County Durham, working with The Empty Homes Agency Loan Fund to bring these homes back into use.

 

The scheme is a joint initiative between AMRP, the charity Empty Homes, central government and the Ecology Building Society.  The scheme will provide loans of up to £15,000 to owners of empty properties to help bring them back info affordable use.

 

The fund was one of the demands of last year’s Great British Property Scandal campaign led by architect and broadcaster George Clarke.  Currently, owners of empty homes are often unable to access funds to bring them back into use, creating a vicious cycle of decline in areas with high numbers of empty homes.

The National Empty Homes Loan Fund (NEHLF) will enable access to secured loans at a fixed 5% interest rate, and will enable owners to renovate the property to Decent Homes standard.

 

Commenting on the launch of the scheme, George Clarke said:

“I care passionately about getting England’s empty homes back into use for people who need them. This scheme provides real help to property owners to help achieve that.”

 

 

To find out more about eligibility and the particulars of the scheme, please click here.

 

Read more and watch a video about the scheme on BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23927786 and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23927781