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Councils offer help to bring empty homes into use 

Published Tuesday 25 February 2025

Property owners are being offered support to bring empty homes back into use, to help meet local housing needs. 

Financial assistance towards refurbishing properties where eligible, rent in advance and help with finding a tenant are just some of the support options available to empty homeowners from South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils. 

Property owners could also benefit from reduced VAT for works on empty homes – if the owner is paying the Long-Term Empty Property Premium tax (payable if a property has been empty for more than two years). 

The councils’ teams can talk property owners through the various benefits and options available for preparing a property for renting out or selling. 

An estimated 1,092 properties (549 in South Oxfordshire, 543 in the Valei) are currently empty, but could once more become a home for those who need it most. 

Some of these homes are unoccupied for a good reason – such as undergoing major refurbishment or awaiting sale. This initiative will target those properties that may need some extra help in being brought back into use. 

Members of the public can also play a part in bringing empty homes back into use by reporting empty properties to the councils. Local residents have already reported 59 empty homes (19 in South Oxfordshire, 40 in the Vale) and 29 are now back in use.ii 

Cllr Sue Caul, Cabinet Member for Housing at Vale of White Horse District Council said: “We encourage people to tell us if they know of a home standing empty in their neighbourhood. There are many varied and sometimes complex reasons why a home could be currently empty, whilst in straightforward circumstances homes are often brought back onto the market naturally. 

“The help we’re offering property owners will hopefully address situations where more advice and support is needed to bring a positive outcome.” 

Cllr Maggie-Filipova-Rivers, Cabinet Member for Housing at South Oxfordshire District Council said: “Every empty property has the potential to become a home for someone who really needs it. 

“Demand for affordable housing in the district is very high. Bringing empty properties back into use will have a positive impact on our work to provide the homes that people need now and in the future. 

“We hope the extra help we’re offering property owners will be a real incentive to work with us on turning properties around so they can be a home once more.” 

You can report an empty home on the council websites southoxon.gov.uk/empty-homes and whitehorsedc.gov.uk/empty-homes

Property owners can find out more about the help available on our websites.

ENDS 

i these properties that have been classified as empty from a council tax perspective – as of February 2025 

ii There are 30 open cases (8 in South Oxfordshire, 22 in the Vale), and some of these properties are not classed as empty from a council tax perspective but there is no one living in the property – for example these could be second homes, the owner may be deceased or the property may be being investigated for re-classification