Liverpool’s Empty Homes Grant Scheme offers owners between £5,000 and £20,000 per property for repairs and improvements that make a home habitable. The council’s published scheme sets out a three-year commitment alongside that funding.
The property must have been empty for at least 12 months and be empty when the application is made. The council will have nomination rights for three years, choosing the tenants, with rent set at the Local Housing Allowance rate. Owners should assess those terms alongside the cost of bringing the home back into use.
What the funding covers
The scheme supports habitable accommodation, not furnishings or furniture. Applicants must provide work quotations. The council also sets eligibility conditions covering ownership, conflicting charges, housing enforcement and council-tax arrears. Licensing, inspection and completion requirements apply before occupation.
The council describes a title restriction securing the grant amount. Its page says that the charge remains if the owner sells or evicts the tenant before the three-year period ends. Read the full policy and obtain advice on the actual agreement rather than relying on the grant headline alone.
Build a realistic project budget
Put the proposed work into a schedule before comparing quotations. Separate essential repairs from improvements you would choose to make anyway, and ask the council which items are eligible. Do not assume that the maximum grant is the amount your property will receive or that work started without agreement will qualify.
Check how the project would be funded while work is underway. An owner needs to understand when payments are released and what invoices or approvals are required. A grant is not a substitute for a cash-flow plan covering contractors, insurance and any remaining costs.
Consider the letting commitment as well as the renovation
Ask for written clarification of nomination arrangements, the applicable rent, ongoing management responsibilities and what happens if circumstances change. If the property has a mortgage, check the proposed arrangement with the lender before making a commitment.
This is a Liverpool scheme, not a North West-wide entitlement. Owners elsewhere should ask their own council about current support and read its separate terms. Funding availability and eligibility should be confirmed directly before spending money.
Source: Liverpool City Council, Empty Homes Grant Scheme scheme page. Checked 8 November 2026.