Empty properties
Empty homes in the private sector
There are private sector properties standing empty in Barnet and at the same time there is a huge demand for housing. Empty properties encourage vandalism and squatters; often they are an eyesore.
There are significant costs to owners in keeping a property empty. It’s in everyone’s interest that properties aren't left empty unnecessarily.
Our policy is to bring empty properties back into good use as soon as possible. To do this we:
- offer assistance to owners if needed and,
- use compulsory measures to stop the property becoming a nuisance and to bring it back into use where all other options fail.
Empty property grants
Grants to bring empty property back into use may be available for:
- owners who would like to let or lease their property to the Council or one of our partner organisations to house people in housing need, or
- current or prospective owner-occupiers to use an empty property (or part of an empty property) as their primary home (when grants are needed to make the property habitable). It is necessary to own a property that has been empty for at least a year to qualify for a grant.
Read more about empty property grants here:
- Empty property grants for owner occupiers
(PDF: 54KB) - Empty property grants for landlords (PDF: 62KB)
Barnet is part of a North London Sub Region Empty Property Initiative. Details of the options available to owners or people affected by empty property are available on their web site.
For definition of Decent Homes and guidance on its implementation follow the link (external link)
For more information on the work of the Empty Homes Agency follow the link (external link)
If you are considering bringing an empty property back into residential use or letting it out, information on how much rental income a landlord may be able to earn, can be obtained from:
To report an empty property (for whatever reason) or get further information on grants, contact:
- The Private Sector Housing Team – details opposite, or
- North London Sub Region Empty Property Initiative.
Email this pageLast modified by: Vilish Shah on 10/03/2009