Empty homes in England rise by nearly 60,000 in five years
The number of long-term empty homes in England has increased by nearly 60,000 over the past five years – the equivalent of just over one per cent of the country’s housing stock, according to a new report.
The report, from the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Empty Homes Network, found that the numbers across all definitions, types and tenures of empty homes have risen steadily since the pandemic and have largely exceeded the figures seen in 2018.
Data shows that more than a million properties across England in 2022 were unoccupied (4% of all dwellings), an increase of nearly 60,000 homes since 2018.
Despite the introduction of an empty homes premium in 2013, aimed at encouraging owners to bring empty properties back into use, numbers continue to rise across England, Scotland and Wales.
Councils are facing major challenges to ensure that everyone can live in a home that meets their current and future needs. Frozen Local Housing Allowance rates, the rising cost-of-living, the closure of Afghan bridging hotels, wider asylum and resettlement pressures, and an insufficient supply of affordable housing are driving increases in homelessness and reducing councils’ ability to source suitable accommodation.
There are currently more than one million people on council housing waiting lists and 104,000 households living in temporary accommodation. The LGA said even bringing just ten percent of these empty homes back into use could help to find permanent homes for these households in temporary accommodation.
Empty homes are often in need of renovation, and in many cases are empty while going through probate after the death of the owner. Some empty homes in richer parts of London are left as ‘cash boxes’ by their owners to accumulate value over time, but these are a small proportion of the national total.
Darren Rodwell, housing spokesperson for the LGA, said: ‘At a time when we face a chronic housing shortage across the country it is wrong for so many homes to be left empty. Councils work hard to address the issue, but the existing measures are clearly falling short.
‘This report, and the best practice proposals and recommendations within it, aim to support councils in their efforts to reduce the numbers of empty homes, increase housing supply, encourage inward investment, and provide a better quality of life for residents and neighbours affected by the issues empty homes cause.
‘Councils share a collective national ambition to tackle local housing challenges. The Government should also support this ambition by using the Autumn Statement to implement our six-point action plan so that councils can resume their historic role as a major builder of affordable homes.’
Adam Cliff, secretary and policy lead for the Empty Homes Network, said: ‘Empty Homes are a hugely wasted resource, and at over one million empty homes nationally, this figure represents the equivalent to the number of total dwellings in the city of Manchester.
‘At a time where the demand housing is so high, working to bring empty homes back into use can not only support meeting this need, but can encourage inward investment, improve communities and enhance the lives of those who currently live near empty homes.
‘This report aims to set a standard from which councils can build a solid foundation to deal with empty homes, and provides practical and evidence based ideas which will undoubtedly prove useful to councils and their officers.
‘While the numbers across all empty homes categories have shown an increase over the past five years, the report aims to address this by equipping councils and officers with tools to assist in data cleansing, case progression and the overarching empty homes journey through the case progression flowchart.’
Image: Leslie Saunders
Empty homes increased in London for the first time in over 10 years