Property owners are being given support to bring their empty homes back into use.

To mark National Empty Homes Week, Chichester District Council is reminding people that grant funding and a reduced VAT rate on renovation materials is available for those who want to turn their unused properties into valuable homes.

Councillor David Betts, cabinet member for housing, revenues and benefits, said: "While the percentage of long-term empty properties in the Chichester District is relatively low in comparison to many other areas of the country, each one represents a potential new home for someone.

"Although many homes routinely become unoccupied for a short time between tenants or owners, others can remain empty for longer.

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"These are the properties that we're keen to see put back into use as potential homes for private buyers or tenants, families threatened with homelessness or someone that needs support, or as a step onto the ladder for key workers."

To assist owners, the council provides an empty homes assistance scheme which offers up to £10,000 of funding to help restore homes that have been empty for more than a year.

Repayment would only be necessary if the house gets sold within the following decade.

More information can be found at https://www.chichester.gov.uk/emptyhomes.

Cllr Betts said: "Empty homes can easily fall into disrepair or attract acts of vandalism, and so as well as helping to enhance local neighbourhoods through maintaining property values and providing increased housing options for local residents, bringing empty homes back into use can also help avoid anti-social behaviour and improve the sense of pride in a local neighbourhood.

"Making an empty house a home again has huge benefits to the owner too — from reducing costs associated with regular bills, such as council tax, and deterioration in property value, to opening up opportunities to gain a regular rental income from letting or a lump sum from selling the property.

"However, we understand the challenges people face in financing and renovating this type of project, and so we're keen to promote the wide range of support that's available."