MS, Cabinet Secretary for
Housing and Local Government: Today, I am pleased to announce the
publication of the Handbook on Empty
Properties in Wales.
Empty properties can be a blight and nuisance on our communities.
Not only can they attract anti-social behaviour, pose
environmental health problems and contribute to a general decline
in our neighbourhoods, but they are also a wasted resource.
Bringing as many empty properties back into use as possible is
important in helping to meet the needs of our most vulnerable
groups, especially in helping to ensure we can quickly move those
currently in temporary accommodation on to permanent homes. Empty
properties can also provide an opportunity for those wishing to
own their own homes.
This handbook serves as a practical resource for local
authorities, property owners, community groups, and all those
involved in tackling empty properties. It offers guidance on
identifying, addressing, and bringing both residential and
commercial empty properties back into beneficial use.
By supporting efforts to revitalise communities, meet housing
needs, and make the most of existing buildings, the handbook aims
to turn empty properties into valuable assets. I encourage
everyone with an interest in this area to make full use of this
resource and to work together to address the challenge of empty
properties across Wales.
Furthermore, I am pleased to confirm the extension of the Empty
Homes Grant application window until September 2026, alongside a
pilot of the removal of the requirement for local
authorities to provide a 10% contribution to participate in the
scheme in 2026-27. This pilot responds to one of the emerging
issues identified in the recently published independent
evaluation of the grant.
