Chris and Claire’s one-bedroom flat in the east end of Glasgow had been in disrepair, having been used as a storage unit for eight years. However, the property, facing a bustling primary school and just a short walk from Tollcross Park, had the potential to become a cherished home. Despite the reasonably mild complexities behind its vacant status, Chris and Claire were stuck on how to progress the project.

“There was a whole sequence of events that led to the flat being empty,” says Claire. 

“We had been flooded numerous times, and we were then ripped off when we were trying to get the kitchen and bathroom renovated. We also had lots of personal family matters to deal with.”  

“It had become a bit of a challenge for the owners to take the property forward,” says Barry, “We were able to act as the catalyst for making it all happen.” 

“But it sounded ideal that there was a company out there that could come and help us get it back into a useful state and take away the burden of having to think about it. Homes for Good was there to manage the renovation and deal with contractors – all the stuff I couldn’t do. And they would handle all the letting after the fact. It just seemed ideal,” she adds. 

First steps

Having been put in touch with the owners by Glasgow City Council, the Homes for Good team prepared a spec sheet and a range of options for the property. “The spec sheet drilled into what the possibilities would be as far as a refurb. We looked at turning it into a two-bedroom property and the income that that would create,” says Barry. 

“We also looked at the return on investment and the technical aspects of what would need to be done to make it a two-bedroom home.”

Homes for Good used its experience and expertise to clearly explain all the options and financial considerations to the owners, helping them to maximise the project’s potential. 

One plan involved moving the kitchen from the back of the property to an open-plan kitchen-living room and creating a new bedroom. An initial estimate for the work was £35,000. As part of the Rent Ready scheme, Homes for Good offered the owners £10,000 towards the cost. 

In safe hands

Barry emphasises patience as a key virtue when it comes to empty home projects. A project’s journey from initiation to discussion to delivery can take years. During this project, there were delays while the owners cleared personal possessions and prepared for the start of the work. 

With the property empty, Barry drew up a technical plan that could be used to obtain a building warrant from Glasgow City Council. While awaiting council approval, Barry and the team received quotes from three contractors, finally selecting a trusted contractor. 

Work began in December 2023 and continued into early 2024. “It was a big refurb, but we didn’t hit any major snags,” says Barry. Work was completed in early April. 

“It was amazing – it looked great,” says Claire. “I wish it had looked like that when I stayed there! You could tell they had done a great job, and it had been done to a really good standard. It was also quite emotional because it had been a long time coming, and it was just nice to finally have it in a habitable state.”  

With the project complete, Homes for Good had the property valued. From an original value of £45,000, it was valued at £100,000. The chargeable rental amount also rose to £750-£800 monthly. “Although there was a fair investment into it, the owners were very pleased,” says Barry. “It is £100,000 and growing and no longer generating void costs.” 

Home comforts

In line with Homes for Good’s commitment to finding homes for those in housing need and on low incomes, the team endeavoured to fill the flat with a suitable tenant. 

After an initial round of viewings, lettings manager Sarah Adamson identified a tenant, also named Sarah, who lived in a landlord property managed by Homes for Good. After moving in, the tenant discovered she was pregnant, and the one-bedroom flat was too small for her new circumstances. Sarah’s baby boy also attended a nursery just a short walk from Trainard Avenue, much closer than her current home. 

The tenant was uncertain about her eligibility for increased housing benefit for the Trainard property. However, the lettings team clarified her entitlements and helped her with the Discretionary Housing Payment application. Once it was approved, Sarah from Homes for Good helped her namesake move into her new home. 

All’s well…

Throughout this period, a burnt-out flat in the neighbouring block, replete with broken windows, bluntly displayed its vacant status. During the final stages of the refurbishment, Homes for Good tracked down the owner and negotiated the purchase of this flat for £37,000. In addition to improving perceptions in the area, the neighbouring property will be refurbished into a one-bedroom flat and returned to the market at an expected value of £80,000. 

“All in all, it was a successful project,” says Barry. “Anyone who saw the end result was extremely impressed, and Glasgow City Council even used some of the images in promotional materials.” 

“We were able to use our technical skills to ensure that best value was being applied to the job, that we were getting the best rates, and we were making the right technical choices for the marketplace,” he adds.