Sevenoaks District Council is supporting a national campaign to reduce the number of long-term empty homes within the area.

Empty Homes Week starts on Monday, December 1 and is organised by independent charity, the Empty Homes Agency.

The council is a member of the ‘No Use Empty’ scheme which is run by Kent County Council.

Through the scheme owners can apply for interest free loan assistance of up to £25k per property to carry out the necessary renovation or conversion works to bring an empty home back into use.

To be eligible, the property must have been empty for at least six months and be available for let or sold once the works are completed.

The No Use Empty initiative provides support to the Empty Homes Officers throughout Kent so that guidance can be given to owners on issues such as VAT and tax incentives, probate complications, ownership issues, the auction process and letting etc.

The council is committed to tackling the issue and recent achievements include 93 long term empty homes having been brought back into use in the last five years, 28 of these being brought back into use with the help of grant or loan assistance and the remainder being returned to use by advice, support and enabling work (including the Council’s Private Sector Lettings and Sevenoaks Property Accreditation schemes).

To report an empty home or for advice contact the council’s Housing Initiatives Officer, Lisa Webb on 01732 227231 or email empty.homes@sevenoaks.gov.uk