One of the main barriers to owners bringing their empty properties back into use, is the cost of the renovation works.

We have put together a loan scheme to provide financial assistance, which has been specifically developed to help meet the costs of renovation, conversion, and in some instances the costs of acquiring empty properties.

Landlords, developers and owners of empty properties can now apply to Kent County Council for a loan to help bring long term empty properties back onto the market for rental or sale.

The participating District Council will 'sponsor' applications for renovation loans to property owners. This will allow landlords and owners of empty properties to discuss their proposals with the empty property officers at an early stage and get good impartial advice on how best to bring their empty properties back into use.

Property owners will need to ensure that relevant planning permissions and building regulation approvals are already in place. They will also need to provide a timescale for the completion of the scheme.

Loan Scheme "The Facts"

• The property must have been empty for more than 6 months
• Loans are interest free
• Loans will help landlords, owners and developers to meet the cost of repairs and improvements to bring their property back into use
• Loans can be awarded up to £25,000 per unit to a maximum of £175,000 per applicant
• Loans to rent - repayment period upto a maximum of four years (31st March 2013)
• Loans to sell - repayment period is usually made on the sale of the first unit or within 24 months of the loan being approved.
• In both cases the property must be brought back into use and occupied by 31 March 20013
• Property must be brought back into use and occupied by 31 March 2013
• The loan will be made available as a 100% upfront payment,
• The loan scheme will help create new, quality and sustainable accommodation across Kent

 

How do I apply for a loan

We would suggest that you download and read the loan guidance booklet below, as this will give you important information on how the scheme works and what conditions you will have to meet to be eligible for a loan.

If you feel that you could benefit from a loan under this scheme or require further information or guidance, then please contact your local Empty Property Officer via the contact section

Please note that the loan scheme is only available in the following participating Councils,

• Thanet District Council
• Dover District Council
• Gravesham Borough Council
• Sevenoaks District Council
• Shepway District Council

Model documents you can down load to review (Please contact Kent County Council, No Use Empty Project Manager. for your formal application pack)

• Loan Booklet
• Example Application form
• Example Charge certificate
• Example Loan agreement form
• Frequently asked questions

The No Use Empty,  initiative which is helping to bring Empty Properties in Kent back into use, continues to go from strength to strength with over  £1.6 million of interest-free loans approved to date. Here in Kent, we are already on the way to exceeding our cumulative "Towards 2010" target of 850 nearly a year ahead of schedule. Our initiative has helped the owners of Empty Properties return over 803 units in Kent, thus creating a range of accommodation for individuals and  families in these areas.

Tax & Vat Guidance

No Use Empty, the initiative which is helping to bring Empty Properties in Kent back into use, continues to go from strength to strength with over  £1.2 million of interest-free loans approved to date. Here in Kent, we are already on the way to exceeding our cumulative "Towards 2010" target of 650 nearly a year ahead of schedule. Our initiative has helped the owners of Empty Properties return over 400 units in the Dover and Thanet area alone, thus creating a range of accomodation for individuals and  families in these areas.

Loans are available on a "Loan to Let" or "Loan to Sell" basis.

For more information on whether you are eligible for a loan please take a look at the following information:

Kent Empty Property Initiative

Example Application Form 

If you are interested in applying for a loan, having read the information in the Loan Booklet or have any further questions, then please do not hesitate to contact the

Relevant Empty Propety Officer for your district or the KCC Project Manager to see how we can help.  

Please note that the Application Form is for information only.
If you wish to apply for a loan then relevant application form realting to your District will be issued to you by the No Use Empty Project Manager.