Council offers grant to help buy a home

WOULD-BE homeowners are being offered grants of up to £20,000 to help them onto the property ladder.

New funding is being offered as part of Rhondda Cynon Taf council’s threeyear, £200m RCTinvest programme to buy a home, boost the economy and regenerate houses that are currently standing empty and at risk of becoming derelict.

The Empty Properties Grant will be offered to help buyers with the cost of modernising and renovating an empty property they purchase, enabling them to turn it into a modern, efficient and affordable home.

There are almost 3,000 empty homes across the county borough and many are offered for sale at an affordable asking price, but need extensive and expensive work to modernise them, putting buyers off.

By providing an upfront grant to help with the costs of rewiring, installing modern heating and plumbing systems, the council hopes to encourage buyers to consider older properties.

Coun Joy Rosser, Rhondda Cynon Taf council’s cabinet member for prosperity, wellbeing and communities, said: “Many of the properties that stand empty in Rhondda Cynon Taf would make lovely homes for people with a bit of work, but often people are put off by, or do not have the upfront funds needed, to undertake such work.

“Tasks such as rewiring, installing a modern heating and plumbing system and modernising decor can cost a lot of money and we hope the introduction of this new grant will assist those looking to buy and create a home.

“Empty properties often have affordable asking prices and this, combined with the lower deposit needed and the grant to undertake modernisation work, should be appealing for house-buyers.”

Find out more via 01443 425725.