Liverpool to invest £7.3m tackling vacant properties
In a bid to start filling the more than 10,000 homes currently sitting empty in the city, the local authority will create a grant programme to help landlords with renovations.
Liverpool City Council’s cabinet will vote tonight on its capital programme, which includes the provision for the £7.3m scheme. If approved, the project would enable 365 properties that have been vacant for more than a year to be brought back into use. In exchange, the city council would have the right to nominate tenants for the homes over the following three years.
Liverpool City Council estimates that the grants would save the organisation £13.3m by reducing the cost of temporary accommodation.
This is just one element of the capital programme that is up for approval.
The city council is also looking to provide £5.2m for the modernisation of leisure centres to provide new gym equipment, upgrade 3G pitches, and improve reception areas. This is the first part of a wider £30m programme that would also see new youth hubs brought into the city.
Another £4.75m will be committed to bringing new benches to a series of parks, resurfacing pathways, and installing litter bins. This money would also go towards upgrading 23 tired playgrounds, some of which contain play equipment that has been decommissioned after safety inspections.
In an attempt to keep streets clean, the city council will also roll out new communal bin hubs, building on a programme first instituted in 2018. This will represent a £2.2m investment and will take place over three years. Based off a project in Glasgow, the hubs are meant to reduce flytipping and encourage recycling.
Cllr Ruth Bennett, Liverpool City Council’s deputy council leader and cabinet member for finance, resources, and transformation, said: “We know that having things such as decent leisure facilities, play areas and parks, as well as clean streets, alleyways and properties that are not in a state of disrepair make a real difference to everyday life.
“This is about making sure that people feel they are getting value-for-money from their Council Tax and the money we are spending is used in their neighbourhood.”
Liverpool City Council Leader Cllr Liam Robinson said: “These investments are possible because of the work we have done over the last couple of years in making our finances sustainable.
“It is an integral part of our journey to delivering quality, joined-up services in our neighbourhoods, which reflect the needs of local residents.”
How about cleaning up the city centre too by stopping beggars leaving their blankets, sleeping bags, tents, and litter laying around for days on end. The greasy stains left on the pavement are an eyesore and we see the same people or groups creating this mess which either gets left or cleaned up at the Council tax payers expense.
Mr Robinson knows this but seems unable , or unwilling,to deal with it.
By Anonymous
Anfield is full of boarded up houses. Tourists must think the entire city is like that. It’s a disgrace and been like that for decades.
By TP
Hang on a mo, the political narrative from Liverpool council for years has been about a ‘housing crisis’, yet we’re sitting on 10,000 empty homes? This doesn’t add up.
By Anonymous
@Anonymous 1:11pm – you might reasonably ask if this is note a failure of the Business Improvement District? Just what are levy-payers’ funds going on?
By More Anonymous than the others
Yeah Naaa! What the council should be doing to tackle this problem is definitely not to hand cash to developers! Whoever already owns the homes should be forced to bring their properties into use at their own expense. Failure to do so within 12 months would result in compulsory purchase. The council could then spend money developing what would then be, their own housing stock and not a private company.
By Bernard Fender
There is no housing crisis. It’s a narrative pushed by developers and government to justify building millions of new homes, often at the expense of our greenbelt. The truth is, there’s far less profit in restoring empty properties than in constructing new developments, and that’s why the focus is where it is.
By Roy Lewis
When will the commenters on here stop bashing Liverpool it’s boring now..Liverpool like Manchester Leeds Bristol Glasgow Birmingham London has its fair share of “beggars” and “litter” just as the aforementioned.
Scouse bashing is not a sport anymore!!
By Mark
I had message Steve Rotherham regarding alleyways. He told me to get intouch with Liam Robinson which I did unfortunately no response 😔. I visited the Granby Winter Gardens which was amazing. I thought it would be advantageous for other parts of the city to replicate The Granby area. Which would bring back communities and help with social behaviour.
By Denise Boot
Double the council tax on empty houses – watch the market motivate itself.
By Anonymous
I referenced that very same point on PNW’s post Liverpool Rejects 107 homes dated 10/09/25. Why on earth are these clowns knocking back much needed development and jobs. Citing not enough affordable housing included in the plans when they are sitting on all this empty property. These buffoons really beggar belief. This City could be amazing beyond belief. Alas it appears these councillors and planners share the same brain cell when it comes to showcasing the City to big business and Developers. I really hope the people of Liverpool vote in Reform and oust these labour backward thinking Councillors in the next election. In the hope of electing and injecting new blood and forward thinking positive business minded people to demonstrate that the City of Liverpool is really open for business.
By Stephen Hart
Subsidising the renovation of houses in areas that clearly no one wants to invest in already is an amazing way to burn money. Can’t wait for new government at local level.
By AB
I agree with @Bernard Fender comments, triple their council tax and then CPO after a set time period – 12 to 24 months. Renovate for social housing, sell for a £1, or sell at market rate, all solutions must have a covenant that they are to be occupied by local owner occupiers for at least three years. No private landlords, investors, or overseas buyers. For any untraceable owners, then its an auto CPO. The CPO process should be streamlined with a three month notification period (online, press and physical) and then a straight title deed change via Land Registry, this service should be provided free in support of reducing vacant houses to become homes again. This could completely change overlooked and blighted neighbourhoods which would make a huge difference to the existing residents and make more housing available.
By GetItBuilt!
Many uninhabited houses and people are still homeless.Thete are more and more people on the streets.The office should solve everything quickly.It will be cold.
By Anonymous
@ Stephen 2.47pm, voting in Reform would be a disaster as they appear to have little to offer except deportation of migrants. Labour has let Liverpool down at various levels and I think Carl Cashman is worth a shot as Metro Mayor as he has visions to expand Merseyrail dramatically in a way current Mayor Steve is unable to imagine. Also nationally the Lib Dems currently have about 70 MPs and this may grow and give them some meaningful influence on whoever is the larger party come the next election.
By Anonymous
What about the vacant council owned properties? That they have no plans to refurb or allow developers/housing associations to buy from them
By Gareth
@Gareth – a tender process just ended for developers/housing associations so purchase 55 vacant properties from the council. Look up the “void programme” for more information.
By Anonymous
Regarding rubbish around the streets. I went to The Winter Garden a few months ago. In the Granby Street area. I was amazed at what they had done to their alleyways both tenants and homeowners. I think if this was replicated in other areas of our city. It would bring communities together and hopefully cut down on social behaviour.
By Denise Boot