Run down homes rescued on line

A Government backed initiative designed to prevent run down homes becoming a lost cause has been viewed as a success.

The Empro website aims to sell run down homes to interested buyers. Owners of such properties who can’t afford to do them up can advertise on the site and find a buyer. So far, over 10,000 users has registered on the site.

Still in trial, Empro covers West London and Birmingham but to list a home on the site is free. So far for each new property listed, Empro attracts 100 calls about it.

Empro.co.uk is designed for properties that have been empty for six months or longer. It is focused on empty homes although it also includes some conversion opportunities, such as vacant space above shops.The properties displayed on the website usually require significant refurbishment and renovation works before they can be occupied, but this is not always the case.