Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council is committed to seeing empty homes returned to use.
There are a number of houses in the borough which haven’t been lived in for a long time and as such are a wasted resource. Some of these will be empty for valid reasons while others will have been abandoned or become too much for the owner to maintain.
Houses which fall into disrepair can have a negative impact on the social and economic status of an area and can cause a variety of problems such as becoming unsafe, devaluing neighbouring properties or attracting anti-social behaviour.
Turning empty homes into lived in properties can help in meeting housing need, improving housing conditions and assist in reducing crime. If the council knows about an empty property we may be able to do something to bring it back into use.
What is an empty home?
An empty home is one that hasn’t been lived in consistently for a while. It doesn’t include second homes or holiday lets.
If you have a home that you don’t live in for whatever reason you need to tell council tax as you may be entitled to an exemption.
Empty homes financial assistance scheme
Long term empty homes may be eligible for financial assistance to help bring them back into use. Assistance is available for properties that have been empty for 12 months or more and in need of work to make it habitable again.
Report an empty home
If you have concerns about a property that has been empty for a while you can report it here. Please use the email below to tell us the address and details of your concerns about the property.
Contact the team
For more information on our Empty Home Financial Assistance Scheme or to report an empty home contact housingeho@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk