Communities and safety

Empty Homes Grant Scheme

Liverpool City Council is offering over £7m through an Empty Homes Grant Scheme.

Expression of interest start date: Monday 24th November 2025
Expression of interest end date: Wednesday 24th December 2025

What is the scheme for?

Grants cover repairs and improvements needed to make a property habitable. The funding does not cover costs related to amenities, furnishings or furniture.  

Empty homeowners can apply for a grant of £5,000 to £20,000 per property to make the property liveable. 

In return, the council will have nomination rights for three years. During this time, the tenants will be chosen by the council, and rent will match the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate.

The council plans to bring 65 homes back this year, and 150 more in each of the next two years.

Who can apply?

The property must be empty when you apply. The number of applications per owner is limited each financial year. No new application will be accepted for the same property within five years of receiving the grant.

To be eligible for the Empty Homes Grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • An owner’s interest in the property
  • The property must have been empty for at least 12 months
  • The property must have no financial charges
  • The owner must not have faced any enforcement action for housing offences.

There must also be no council tax arrears against the property.

Initial application requirements

When you are asked to apply, you will need to: 

  • Provide quotes for the work proposed at the property to ensure that the works is costed fairly.
  • Make sure the work is limited to what is needed to meet the Decent Homes Standard

The amount of grant should include the cost of works and VAT, and this may be at a lower rate if the property is over two years old. Find out more - Buildings and construction (VAT Notice 708) GOV.UK 

How will grants be awarded?

Grant applications will then be judged on:

  • Merit, with priority given to those applications that are fully completed and include all quotes.
  • The risk level of the property.
  • How often it has come to the attention of Private Sector Housing and the amount of work required.

How to express an interest

We are inviting expressions of interest now. Application forms will be provided after this stage. Email privatesector.housing@liverpool.gov.uk to take part.

What happens if my application is successful?

If you are awarded a grant, the following must be provided once the work has been completed:

  • Contractors must provide invoices. These must be sent to the Grants team, who will pay the contractor directly.
  • A charge will be placed on the property for the grant amount as insurance. If all conditions have been followed after the three-year period, the charge will be removed.  If the owner sells the property or evicts the tenant before three years, the charge will stay on the property.
  • Owners must get the correct Selective or HMO licence before tenants move in.

The property can be occupied when:

  • A case officer has inspected the property and found that the premises are free from all Category 1 and 2 Hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (Housing Act 2004).
  • All Building Control and Planning rules have been followed.
  • Receipted invoices from competent contractors are provided, where applicable.
  • A Gas Safe Certificate, an Electrical Report, and an Energy Performance Certificate have been provided, where applicable. 
  • All approved work has been finished according to the original quote and has been approved by the case officer.