Important: Cookie Policy
We use cookies to help keep our site relevant and easy to use. To help us do this
we need your permission to use cookies. Read more...
EU legislation requires that all websites clearly specify if cookies are being used
and their purpose. For more information on the cookies we use view our privacy policy.
South Ayrshire Council use Google Analytics which uses cookies to anonymously track
activity on our site. We use this information to keep our site relevant and to make
it easier to use. We have already set a cookie that is essential to the sites operation.
If you accept the use of cookies on this website you will no longer see this message.
We will also place a preference cookie and Google will place temporary session cookies
on your computer.
Should you later, manually delete the preference cookie then you will need to re-confirm
your preference when you next visit this website.
Yes, I accept the use of cookies
Housing
Renovating Empty Private Properties for Renting Out
It is important – both for owners of empty properties in Scotland and people
in housing need who might be interested in renting a particular empty house, to
realise that there are a couple of grant options available.
These grants are aimed at encouraging private landlords to release their empty houses
so that they can be renovated and let out to affordable rents to local people.
Lead Tenancies Scheme
The Lead tenancies Scheme was launched by Scottish Homes in 1994 and is designed
to bring suitable empty properties back in to good condition and residential use.
Lead tenancies are principally designed to allow non priority homeless people access
to a long term let. The scheme offers what can be a sizeable renovation grant and
works like this:
- A private landlord lets the property to a registered housing association (the lead
tenant).
- If the house or flat needs improvement work then the lead tenant, the housing association,
can get a Scottish Homes' grant of up to £22,000 to improve the property and
bring it back into residential use. The amount of grant awarded depends on how many
years the landlord is willing to lease the property to the housing association.
The grant is £1,100 per year to the owner for every year the property is leased
up to a maximum of 20 years.
- The housing association then sub-lets the renovated house or flat to an applicant
on their waiting list on a Short Assured Tenancy of 6 months at an affordable cost.
The tenancy can be renewed if the tenant carries out their role as a tenant satisfactorily.
- The housing association remains legally responsible for the regular payment of rent
to the property owner, the proper management and maintenance of the house and it's
return in good order at the lease expiry date.
- Each project is appraised by Communities Scotland on its own merits.
A comprehensive information pack is available from:
Communities Scotland
52/66 Newmarket Street
AYR
KA7 1LR
Tel: 01292 611810
Fax: 01292 269095
Website:
www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk
Tel: 0131 313 0044
Fax: 0131 337 0578