If you have an empty home but work is required to make it habitable again, we may be able to fund and undertake the works on your property through a leasing scheme as part of our Empty Homes Wales project.
There are no agency or sign up fees, and no hassle for you.
After receiving information and photographs of the property, we will carry out research and determine if we will take on the opportunity. If it’s a yes, we will arrange for our surveyor to meet you at the property to carry out an inspection. The surveyor will draft a schedule of work, including estimated work costs.
We will arrange to obtain competitive quotations from approved contractors and the works are normally awarded to the contractor who provides the lowest quotation.
Our surveyor will then oversee the refurbishment works from start to finish.
How does the leasing scheme work?
We will lease the property from you and manage the occupation contract including repairs and maintenance.
The rental income received during the term of the lease will be used to cover the cost of the work.
Once the work costs have been recovered, we can continue to let the property on your behalf and begin paying you the rental income, minus our management fee. Alternatively, the lease can be ended and we can return the property to you.
It’s simple. No initial outlay. No upfront fees. No occupation contract management issues. You’ll get complete peace of mind from a reputable and leading housing association.
Occupation Contract Management Package
Once your property is ready to be let we will manage the whole process including:
- Marketing the property
- Carrying out accompanied viewings with prospective residents
- Contract holder reference checks
- A Money Advisor visit to check the prospective resident can afford the rent prior to being offered the accommodation.
Once a resident is allocated we will:
- Take an inventory and photograph the property prior to letting
- Sign up the resident
- Arrange a welcome visit within six weeks to ensure residents have moved in without any issue
- Ensure utility companies and the council are notified of new occupier details and meter readings.
During the occupation contract we will:
- Collect the rent offering residents several ways to pay, including direct debit, payment cards, debt or credit card payments. If housing benefit is being received we can also arrange for this to be paid directly to us.
- Apply our rent arrears process if rent is not paid
- Serve any legal notices and attend court where necessary
- Inspect the property every six months
- Deal with all occupation contract issues including any antisocial behaviour.
Maintenance during the term of the lease:
- All day to day repairs will be carried out by an approved contractor and the costs added to the homeowner’s account
- If any major repairs are required to the property during the term of the lease, the Specialist Projects Officer will contact the homeowner to discuss before work is undertaken
- Residents will have access to a 24-hour property maintenance emergency call-out service
- Annual gas servicing is arranged and carried out via Empty Homes Wales
The length of the lease will be determined by the works costs.
How to apply
In the first instance, please complete the enquiry form on our Help with empty homes page.
To complete your full application, you will need:
- ID that shows your photograph i.e. passport, driving license card
- Land Registry office copies
- A letter from the mortgage lender, if applicable, providing their agreement to the registration of the lease
- Your Buildings Insurance Policy document which should make reference to United Welsh being an interested party and it being on a buy-to-let basis
- Utility company providers details
