An innovative grant scheme to help first-time buyers modernise empty homes in Anglesey and Gwynedd has won a prestigious housing award.
The First Time Buyers Empty Homes Grant scheme won the Chartered Institute of Housing’s 2021 award for Supporting Future Generations in Wales.
The CIH Cymru award was recently presented to the Empty Homes Teams of the neighbouring local authorities.
Anglesey and Gwynedd have been working together to deliver the £2.5M scheme since 2018. They have helped 155 first-time buyers by utilising funding from the Second Homes Council Tax Premium and Welsh Government regeneration funds.
Several of Wales’ coastal and rural communities have seen record house price increases, with many properties purchased as second homes and/or holiday lets, or by people who have decided to relocate from more urban parts of the UK to retire or work from home.
Anglesey’s Housing portfolio holder for Housing, Cllr. Alun Mummery, said, “Following the dramatic house price increases seen in 2020 in Ynys Mon and Gwynedd, the need to support first-time-buyers has never been greater. Recognising the combined need to support first-time-buyers and bring long-term empty houses back into use as first homes, the two local authorities have established and delivered an innovative support scheme to assist local first-time-buyers to meet the costs of refurbishing newly purchased empty homes for use as their new home.”
Both counties have established slightly different schemes, but have been working in partnership with each other and Welsh Government to secure funding, add value, monitor progress, capture outputs, address common issues and share good practice.
Cllr. Craig ab Iago, Gwynedd Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Property added, “One of our main objectives is to ensure that the people of Gwynedd have access to a suitable home which is of a high standard, affordable and improves their quality of life and the Empty Homes Teams provide a crucial role in enabling this for many of our residents.
“I’d like to thank the empty homes teams from both authorities who helped to drive and deliver the scheme at a time when we are facing a housing crisis. We would also like to thank our respective Council Cabinets for supporting this innovative scheme enabling us to utilise funds from the Second Homes Council Tax premium in such a positive and beneficial manner.”
The scheme has also been funded by the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Programme. News of the award was welcomed by the Welsh Government.
The Welsh Government’s Minister for Climate Change, who has responsibility for housing, Julie James said, “Our Transforming Towns Programme has supported the delivery of a range of interventions to bring properties back into use to include targeted assistance to first time buyers providing much needed homes for local communities.
“I’m so pleased that the Chartered Institute of Housing has recognised the contribution of organisations and key individuals and celebrated this best practice for the housing sector across Wales. Tackling the challenges and opportunities associated with empty properties is a key policy for Welsh Government and it’s great to see work like this being undertaken across North West Wales.”
Ends 13 October 2021
Notes to editors
The estimated 26,000 empty private sector dwellings in Wales are a wasted resource and an opportunity to provide a home. The combined Anglesey and Gwynedd figure has been close to 2,000 with a vacancy rate exceeding the Wales average. Many of these empty properties are in need of refurbishment and modernisation, but first-time buyers are generally not in a position to take on a loan in addition to their mortgage.
The schemes in both counties have involved a grant of up to £20,000 per eligible applicant, together with project management support from the local authority. The schemes are subject to ongoing review, and revised criteria and grant limits may apply in the future (£15k in Gwynedd).
Funding for the grant has been obtained from a number of sources including:
- The Second Homes Council Tax Premium
- Welsh Government TRI/Transforming Towns regeneration funds (2018-21)
The schemes form a key part of the local housing strategies of both counties, and are one of many empty homes and housing need interventions that are being undertaken by the local authorities and other housing sector partners.
Most of the beneficiaries of the scheme are young people buying their first home, many of whom have or will soon have young children - the scheme thus plays a key role in supporting the well-being of future generations in the area.
Outcomes and achievements
- The scheme has operated since 2017/18
- The total number of First Time Buyer grants awarded / properties improved to date is 155
- The total grant sum spent to date is £2.498M giving an average grant per property of £16,129
- Some 500 contracts have been awarded to local construction sector SME’s
- Circa £0.5m of private investment has been levered through private contributions to works.
- Properties have been improved, with particular emphasis on improving energy efficiency levels, which then results in lower energy costs for owners.
First time buyers have been complimentary of the opportunities afforded to them through the scheme. Examples of comments on the evaluation form included:
“It made getting on the property ladder much easier for someone in my financial position. It helped me make my house a safe and enjoyable home.”
“It allowed me to buy an affordable home and to modernise and make it liveable something I wouldn’t have been able to do without the grant.”
“…made a significant difference as we were able to live together as a family”.
The initiative contributes to all seven of the well-being goals set out in the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. There is also close alignment with the Five Ways of Working set out in that Act in that the scheme forms part of a long-term strategy / plan, involved and integrated working across organisations, clear collaborative working between different agencies and sectors, and prevents premises from remaining vacant and more problematic as they deteriorate.
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