In West Hull, Giroscope has spent four decades bringing empty homes back into use. The group started renovating properties around Gee Street in 1985 and formalised as a workers’ co-operative the following year, according to its published history. It became a registered charity in 2007 and expanded its housing work through the Empty Homes Programme from 2012. Its history records a residential portfolio of 150 properties in the 2020s.
How an empty house becomes a home again
Giroscope buys and refurbishes vacant properties and rents homes to people in housing need. Each acquisition brings two jobs. The first is making an unused building safe and suitable to live in. The second is managing it as a home once a tenant moves in. Giroscope’s approach also creates opportunities for volunteers and trainees to gain practical experience during refurbishment.
The charity’s growth depended on finance as well as labour. In February 2018, social investor Social and Sustainable Capital reported that its two investments in Giroscope totalled £1 million. The first helped the charity acquire three properties, including commercial premises on Coltman Street. The other two were homes that volunteers and trainees helped renovate. The premises gave the charity space for training and local organisations. The investment is a historical example of how the model was funded.
What other neighbourhoods can learn
Bringing homes back into use starts with identifying buildings that a group can acquire and repair at a manageable cost. A refurbishment budget needs to cover the work and leave room for surprises. Once the work is complete, rent collection, maintenance and support for tenants become ongoing responsibilities. Local building skills and access to finance matter at each stage.
For councils and community groups, a useful measure is how many properties are occupied and managed sustainably after renovation. A small scheme can make a meaningful difference on a street where homes have stood empty. Hull’s experience shows the value of putting a long-term housing provider in place alongside the people who can carry out the work.
Sources
- [Giroscope’s history](https://giroscope.org.uk/about-giroscope/)
- [Giroscope housing](https://giroscope.org.uk/housing/)
- [Social and Sustainable Capital’s 2018 investment announcement](https://www.socialandsustainable.com/giroscope-brings-empty-homes-back-to-life-for-those-in-need-in-hull-thanks-to-1m-investment-boost-from-sasc/)