Supporting Mr L: Bringing a Long-Empty Family Home Back Into Use

Success Stories

A home can often remain empty for years when a family member moves into long-term care.

A view of an empty kitchen with white walls and cupboards after rennovation

A kitchen with brown wooden cabinets, brown tiles and beige counter tops, before refurbishment

A view looking down a house stairway with pink walls and red carpet on the stairs, before refurbishment

A newly refurbished house stairway with walls painted white and a brown carpet

A living room painted pink with old fashioned furniture and lamps, before refurbishment

A newly refurbished living room with walls painted white and a brown carpet

A bedroom painted pink with old fashioned furniture, including a bed, chairs and wardrobe - before refurbishment

A newly refurbished empty bedroom with walls painted white and a brown carpet

A newly refurbished living room with white blinds in the window, walls painted white and a brown carpet

A small bedroom painted pink with a red carpet and a bed, before refurbishment

A small garden after renovation with a neat lawn and fence, walls and outbuilding

A small garden, showing a patch of untidy border and the side of an out building, before renovation

A bathroom with pink furniture and tiles and bare floorboards, before refurbishment

With so many decisions to make – often during an already stressful time – it’s not uncommon for families to feel unsure of where to begin.

Mr L got in touch with us after receiving a letter from the council about the Empty Homes Doctor service. He had Power of Attorney for his uncle, who had moved into care some years earlier, leaving a two-bed, semi-detached house unoccupied for seven years.

At the time, Mr L wasn’t sure what the best course of action was, but he was open to exploring options. We arranged to meet him at the property to discuss the possibilities and offer support.

Together, we explored various options, including refurbishment, rental, and sale. To help the family make an informed decision, we arranged for:

Estate agents and letting agents to view the property and provide honest appraisals
Contractors to offer renovation quotes
Advice on meeting the Leeds Rental Standard, including the safety checks and certificates required to let the home legally and safely

After weighing up the options, the family chose to renovate and let the property. We introduced Mr L to Property Elevate (formally Let Leeds), who offered a competitive quote and managed the refurbishment.

The renovation was completed within three months of first contact with our team, and the house was let within a week of going on the market.

“Thank you so much for your help and for putting us in contact with good suppliers — you saved us a lot of time and money. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.”

Before getting in touch with us, Mr L’s uncle had been paying the increased Empty Homes Council Tax Premium (which would now be charged at 300% of the standard rate). Now, the property is fully occupied and generating a steady rental income.

After seven years empty, the property was brought back into use within just six months – a fantastic outcome for the family and the local community.

More Success Stories

Supporting Mr S: Selling Remotely After 12 Years Away

Supporting Mr P: From Overwhelmed to Sold in Just Two Months

Do you own an empty property?