The Thames Gateway South Essex (TGSE) Sub Regional Strategic Housing group (Basildon, Castle Point, Rochford, Southend and Thurrock) is working with private owners to renovate empty properties in the district and make them available to people in housing need.

Over the next two years, the TGSE sub region will receive a regional government investment of £1.5 million, to be used to pay for improvements to empty homes.

Pathmeads Housing Association, part of Genesis Housing Group, has been appointed as managing agent. Under the scheme property owners, the local authorities and Pathmeads will identify properties that would benefit from renovation and then agree terms usually with a five-year lease. Pathmeads will then be loaned the money up to £20,000 per property from the regional pot to bring the homes to decent homes standards. This loan will then be recovered through regular repayments when a tenant in housing need has been placed in the property. Affordable rent levels will be set for all properties in the scheme. These repayments to the local authorities will ensure that the scheme is self-funding, beyond 2011.

Councillor Mrs Tracy Capon from Rochford District Council and Councillor Mrs Wendy Goodwin from Castle Point Borough Council said “ This will scheme will improve the housing choice of families waiting for housing and will provide a long term contribution to meeting the sub region’s housing need. All the TGSE partners are keen to be pro-active and improve accommodation standards to provide a greater range of available properties. The scheme has the added value of reducing the blight of empty homes and will help increase the sustainability of housing options in the area.”