A MAISONETTE in Rochford is set to be the first property to benefit from a £1.5million scheme to refurbish empty homes for people in need.

The Empty Homes scheme, run by Pathmeads Housing Association, is set to spend cash revamping empty, private properties, over a two year period.

Working with Southend, Rochford, Basildon, Castle Point and Thurrock councils, the association will begin renovating properties across the county, starting with the two-bedroom maisonette in Malting Villas Road.

The property, empty for almost a year, will undergo a six-week refurbishment costing around £21,000, including a rewiring, new flooring, redecoration, a new bathroom, new kitchen, and a new heating system.

Tracy Capon, Rochford Tory councillor responsible for benefits and housing, said: “It is fantastic the first property under this scheme is in Rochford.

“However, it is important to remember this initiative covers all of the Thames Gateway partners. I look forward to more homes taking advantage of the scheme.”

Pathmeads is part of regional housing provider Genesis Housing Group, which, together with the five councils, won the funding from the East of England Regional Assembly.

For each refurbishment the scheme takes on, money will be loaned from the central pot, which will be gradually repaid from subsequent rent, making the scheme self-funding after 2011.

Each property will be upgraded to meet the Government’s Decent Homes standard.

Under the arrangement, each property will be leased to the association for five years and then rented out to families on the relevant council’s housing register. After five years, the property will be returned to its owner, or a new lease will be taken out to try to ensure it does not fall empty again.