Homeowner Jacob, reflects on his experience of the empty homes grant below.
I initially heard about the grant from a friend who had previously been accepted. I had already purchased the property prior to knowing about the grant and as such, finding out I was eligible for the grant was a huge bonus and a huge help to transform what was a rundown house in to my family home.
Whilst elements of the grant process can be a bit tricky, to ensure you comply with all of the criteria set out, knowing I was able to talk through any questions or queries with my surveyor Allyn made it so much more straightforward.
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, site visits and face to face meetings were not able to take place however, Allyn was really flexible and always available via telephone to support. He spoke direct with my builder at times to ensure things were completed as required. This helped re-assure me & keep things on track which was really important for me as my partner was pregnant during the renovations & I wanted the house to be ready before the baby arrived.
The grant has been a huge benefit to myself & my family. Thankfully, all works were completed before the baby arrived and this would not have been possible had this grant not been available to me. We are all settled in our new home now.
I have spoken to friends and work colleagues about the grant and passed on information for people to look in to further. The money available makes a huge difference & in a lot of cases will be a big bonus for individuals.