The number of long-term empty homes in England has increased by nearly 10 per cent over the past five years – the equivalent of just over 1 per cent of the country’s housing stock, according to a new report from the LGA and the Empty Homes Network.
The findings show that the numbers across all types of empty homes have risen steadily since the pandemic and have largely exceeded the figures seen in 2018.
Last year, more than one million properties across England were unoccupied (4.01 per cent of all dwellings), an increase of nearly 60,000 homes since 2018.
There are currently more than one million people on council housing waiting lists and more than 104,000 households living in temporary accommodation.
Bringing just 10 per cent of these empty homes back into use could help to find permanent homes for households in temporary accommodation.
The 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.
Cllr Darren Rodwell, LGA Housing Spokesperson, 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 share a collective national ambition to tackle local housing challenges. They work hard to address the issue, but the existing measures are clearly falling short.
“The Government should also support this ambition by implementing our six-point action plan for social housing so that councils can resume their historic role as a major builder of affordable homes.”
- For more information, see ‘Turning empty houses into homes’.