The owners of derelict homes in Brent are being offered generous grants of up to £26,000 so they can refurbish their properties and place them on the rental market.

There are around 1,000 empty homes in the borough and Brent Council is urging owners to find out more about schemes to bring them up to a rentable standard.

Yesterday saw the start of Empty Homes Week and the grants on offer could see owners receive up to 70 per cent of the cost of refurbishment works, depending on the size of the property.

Cllr Margaret McLennan, Lead Member for housing and development at Brent Council, said: “We want to bring all of the empty properties in Brent back into active use and there are a variety of ways we can do this.

“This year we have already helped bring approximately 190 properties back into active use and we are also on track to meet our target of reviving 100 hundred empty properties via grant funding. These will provide much needed homes for our families in housing need.”

For more information visit here, call the Empty Property Team on 020 8937 2535/020 8937 2539 or email empty.property@brent.gov.uk.