Council Offers Cash for Rental Upgrades as Empty Homes Strategy Expands
Liverpool City Council has unveiled a major housing initiative aimed at bringing long-term empty properties back into use, with landlords and property owners potentially able to access grants worth up to £20,000.
The funding forms part of a wider housing strategy designed to tackle the city’s shortage of affordable homes, reduce the number of vacant properties and improve standards across the private rented sector. The council believes that restoring existing empty homes could provide quicker and more cost-effective housing solutions than relying solely on new developments.
The new programme comes as housing demand continues to rise across many parts of the UK, with councils facing increasing pressure to support households struggling to secure affordable accommodation.
Grants available for long-term empty properties
Under Liverpool’s new £7.3 million Empty Homes Grant scheme, owners of residential properties that have remained vacant for at least 12 months may qualify for financial support ranging from £5,000 to £20,000.
The council says the funding is intended to help landlords carry out essential repair and improvement works needed to bring homes back up to a legally compliant standard. This could include addressing issues such as unsafe electrics, faulty gas systems, damp problems or other serious housing hazards.
In return for receiving public funding, landlords will be required to make the refurbished properties available as affordable rental homes for households currently on Liverpool’s housing waiting list.
The scheme is expected to run for up to three years, or until all available funding has been allocated.
Thousands of homes remain empty across Liverpool
According to council figures, Liverpool currently has more than 10,000 empty homes spread across the city’s wards. Officials believe many of these properties could be brought back into use far more quickly than delivering large-scale new-build housing projects.
Councillor Hetty Wood, Liverpool’s cabinet member for housing, said vacant homes are a wasted resource at a time when many residents are struggling to find secure accommodation.
She explained that every property returned to the market could help reduce demand on temporary housing services while also improving communities that have suffered from long-term dereliction and neglect.
Wood also stressed that the council intends to combine support with stronger enforcement measures where owners refuse to engage with efforts to bring properties back into use.
Enforcement powers also being considered
Alongside the grant scheme, Liverpool City Council is proposing a tougher approach towards long-term empty homes through the use of compulsory purchase powers and enforced property sales.
The council says these measures may be used in cases where property owners fail to cooperate despite ongoing housing demand in the city.
Officials argue that leaving homes vacant for extended periods is becoming increasingly difficult to justify while pressure on housing services continues to grow.
The proposals reflect a broader trend among local authorities across the UK, many of which are exploring stronger intervention powers to tackle persistent empty homes and improve local housing supply.
Selective licensing scheme may continue after 2027
As part of the wider housing review, Liverpool is also consulting on the future of its selective licensing scheme, which currently covers around 80% of privately rented homes across the city.
The existing scheme is due to expire in 2027, but the council is now considering whether it should continue in its current form or be redesigned to focus on specific areas.
Selective licensing was originally introduced to improve housing standards, tackle poor property conditions and strengthen tenant protections within the private rented sector.
While the council says the programme has helped raise standards in many neighbourhoods, it also acknowledges that compliance issues remain among some landlords and property owners.
Residents, landlords and letting agents will all be invited to share their views as part of the consultation process before a final decision is made.
Housing standards remain under scrutiny
The debate around selective licensing and empty homes comes at a time when the wider rental sector continues to face increased political and regulatory attention.
Many councils are under pressure to improve housing quality while also dealing with affordability concerns, rising homelessness applications and growing waiting lists for social housing.
At the same time, landlords are facing higher borrowing costs, rising maintenance expenses and ongoing legislative changes, including reforms linked to the Renters’ Rights Act.
Liverpool City Council argues that improving existing housing stock could play an important role in easing some of these pressures, particularly in areas where empty homes have become a long-standing issue.
Freehold sales programme to continue
Alongside the new housing measures, the council has also confirmed that its freehold sales programme will continue. This allows qualifying long-leaseholders of single residential properties to purchase the freehold of their homes at a fixed cost.
The programme is intended to give homeowners greater control over their properties while simplifying long-term ownership arrangements.
Focus on balancing support and enforcement
Liverpool’s latest housing strategy highlights the balancing act many councils are now attempting to manage — encouraging landlords and owners to invest in properties while also taking firmer action against those leaving homes vacant for long periods.
By combining grant funding, licensing proposals and enforcement powers, the council hopes to improve housing availability, strengthen neighbourhoods and reduce pressure on local services over the coming years.
With demand for affordable housing remaining high, bringing empty homes back into use is likely to remain a major focus for councils across the UK.
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