Empty properties

There are privately owned properties that are empty in the borough. We offer schemes and incentives to help homeowners bring empty homes back into use. They can do this by carrying out repairs to make the property lettable.

Report an empty property

Available grants

We offer grants to owners and landlords to help bring their properties up to Decent Homes Standard. Landlords can then rent the property through one of our Help2Let schemes.

They can rent the property this way for between three and five years.

We have two grants available: 

  1. empty property grant
  2. repair to lease grant.

Empty property grant

  • receive a grant of up to £15,000
  • your commitment is to sign up to a 3-year letting agreement through Help2Let.

Repair to lease grant:

  • receive a grant of up to £10,000
  • your commitment is to sign up to a 2-year letting agreement through Help2Let. 

Grants are subject to funding. To check availability contact the Empty Property Grant Team at: empty.homes@harrow.gov.uk.

The grants are designed to provide financial support to bring a property up to Decent Homes Standard including:

  • renewing a defective kitchen or bathroom
  • renewing or repairing a hot water system
  • rewiring
  • damp proofing
  • renewal of defective/damaged roofs
  • repairing or renewing rotted windows and doors
  • works to remedy category 1 hazards e.g. tripping hazards, excess cold.

For more information see our policy on empty properties.