insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 03 - May 2015 | Page 96
property
MAKE AN EMPTY HOUSE
A HAPPY HOME
Arun District Council is urging empty
homeowners to take advantage of funding
to bring these properties back into use.
A Bognor Regis property has been
empty for over seven years, and has
recently been the cause of complaints due
to its visual appearance and the length of
time it has been left un-occupied.
The Council is now in a position
where they can offer funding to help empty
homeowners bring their properties back
into a habitable condition, which will then
be let through Northwood’s Letting Agency
and the council’s housing options team, in
order to offer a local family a place to live.
The Local Authority is working in
partnership with Northwoods Letting
Agency to deliver the Guaranteed Rent
Scheme which offers a full property
management service for up to five years
with no tenancy set up costs.
So far there are six properties involved
in the scheme which are located across the
Arun district.
Those looking to take advantage of the
funding can apply for a non-repayable grant
up to £5,000 or an interest free £10,000
loan, which is deducted from the monthly
rent.
Brian Pople, Head of Housing at Arun
District Council, said: “The Council currently
has around 500 empty homes and this
scheme will help bring empty properties
back into use.
“This funding allows empty
homeowners to turn a once neglected
property into a place they can offer to
someone urgently seeking somewhere to
live and a place they can call their home. I
would urge as many people as possible to
take advantage of this innovative scheme.”
The scheme targets properties that
have been empty for more than six months
with the aim of working with the owner in
order to bring the property up to a Decent
Homes Standard. It can then be let under
the guaranteed rent scheme.
To find out more please contact Helen
Stevens, Empty Property Officer at Arun
District Council on 01903 737 788 or
[email protected].
BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED 1820s PERIOD TOWNHOUSE LAUNCHES
AS EXCLUSIVE SEAFRONT VENUE IN BRIGHTON
After four years of hard work, steep
learning curves and more love than
any sane person should have for an
inanimate object, Angel House finally
made its debut this spring.
The stunning townhouse
started life in 1825 as one of the first
properties on the Brunswick Estate.
Back in the day, it’s thought it was
probably used as a show home, to
e