Empty Homes Week 2025

Every March we celebrate Empty Homes Week, the theme for 2025 is 'People and Planet', showing how local authorities work tirelessly to bring empty homes back into use and help local people live healthier better lives, as well as highlighting the role that empty homes can play in helping us all to minimise climate breakdown.

Preston City Council's Empty Homes Team were recently involved in turning an empty property around.

The team contacted owners of a property that was registered as a second home but appeared to have been empty since 2009.

The owners responded citing financial restrictions as a barrier in fixing severe structural issues, but they wanted to hold on to the house for a family member.

The Repair and Lease option of the Making Homes from Houses scheme (MHFH), a partnership between Preston City Council and Community Gateway Association (CGA), was the only option for reoccupation the owners would consider.

It took a considerable amount of time to negotiate this lease, but having agreed to be part of the scheme, CGA are close to completing this major renovation and the house will once more be available as a much-needed affordable house in Preston for at least the next 30-years.

Due to the severity of the structural damage, the lease term of 30-years was required for CGA to recoup the works costs as the structural problems were so significant but a lease term of this length favours CGA and the Council, as it provides a long-term housing option.

Making Homes from Houses, the Council's award-winning partnership with Community Gateway Association, is approaching its 50^th property renovated under this scheme taking action on empty homes which negatively impact neighbourhoods, turning them around and providing new family homes within Preston.

Visit our Empty Homes page for more information.