The HCA has updated its Frequently Asked Questions document in respect of bidding for the £100million Empty Homes Programme. Key points include
The FAQ document contains a link to the CLG model on which the grant rates have been predicated.
EHN is pleased to see that the methodology takes into account the VAT receipts to central government in establising value-for-money. As far as we know this has not been done previously - or if so it has certainly not been made public. The HCA itself ihas never been in a position to take VAT receipts into account: only CLG in consultation with the Treasury could have done so. This is progress.
Unfortjunately, the document does not make clear the market rent and HB assumptions on which the calculations are based, making it harder to gauge how realistic it is, which we guess will vary from area to area. And it must be said that the logic would not be very easy to follow if you started with the assumptions that homes would be standing empty without the injection of public funding and that we are not in the business of rewarding owners of emp[ty homes with free refurbishment.
You can find links to the documents via our Information Library or use our Links page to get to the relevant page of the HCA website.