Empty homes across Northumberland will be brought back into use thanks to a project being delivered by Northumberland County Council.
Thirty homes from across the county will be repaired and released back onto the rental market, using a £750,000 grant from the Homes and Communities Agency’s (HCA) Affordable Housing programme.
As part of the scheme the council will purchase and repair a number of empty homes, which once rented, would then be managed by the council’s Homes for Northumberland team.
Where possible this will be done with the consent and agreement of the landlord or owner. However, if an agreement can not be made the council has the power, under the EDMO, to take the property from the owner, to secure its future.
Northumberland County Council’s business chair, Scott Dickinson, said: “The council is committed to bringing empty homes back into use, where they can benefit and improve a community.
“Thanks to this funding from the HCA, we will now be able to work with private landlords to identify properties, which could be given a new lease of life and become a much-needed family home.”