An amendment to the Trafford Affordable Housing Fund is proposed to allow the Fund to be used to bring empty homes* back into use as affordable social rented properties. The amendment would further increase the provision of social rented accommodation across the borough.

*An empty property is defined as being vacant for 5 or more years and can be either be private, Registered Provider or Council owned.

That the Trafford Affordable Housing Fund be amended to allow Registered Providers or the Council, to bid for grant to assist with bringing empty homes back into use as social rented accommodation.

To increase the supply of social rented accommodation which is needed in the borough. The Fund would enable the Council to take a proactive role in increasing the provision of affordable housing, bring long term empty homes back into use and meet Corporate Priorities to tackle the severe affordability issues that Trafford faced to benefit local residents.

An option would be not to review the Trafford Affordable Housing Fund and keep the criteria as it was before. This would result in Registered Providers and the Council not being able to utilise the monies to bring long term empty homes back into use, therefore limiting the number of socially rented accommodation in the borough.

None.