Jayne Bryant 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.