Cheshire West and Chester Council are calling on empty home owners to be part of a bespoke service to help bring as many empty homes back into use as possible.

The Empty Homes Matching Service has been designed to help owners who wish to sell their property.

The service links empty home owners who wish to sell their property with landlords who wish to buy empty properties to provide much needed housing for the borough’s residents.

Cllr Angela Claydon, Cabinet member for housing, said: “This is a really effective way for an empty home owner to provide much needed accommodation for the borough’s residents by selling their property to a registered provider or private landlord who will then let it to someone in housing need, following any necessary renovation.

“There are currently around 2,200 long term empty homes across the borough and I am very keen to ensure that the council does everything it can to bring as many of these back into use as possible.”

Since launching in April, 15 landlords have joined the new matching service to work with empty home owners to purchase their home.

Cllr Claydon added: “There are many benefits for empty home owners being part of the Empty Homes Matching Service. It can make selling a property easier and save on estate agent fees as there is often no need to advertise the property on the open market. Best of all the service is free of charge to the owner.

“The owner is also safe in the knowledge that a matched landlord is going to carry out any necessary renovations and bring the house back into use.”

If you are an empty home owner and want further details about how you can be part of the Matching Service and ensure that your property is put to good use then please ring the Empty Homes Team on 0300 123 70 38.