Tue, 19 Aug 2025

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 Empty homes are on the rise. So why aren't they being used to solve the housing shortage?

There are almost 720,000 empty homes in England. And many more on social housing waiting lists - so why aren't we better using one to help solve the other, and is it a case of a missed opportunity?
Several experts and stakeholders are quoted in the article, providing different perspectives on the reasons for empty homes and potential solutions. Some key points include:
* The probate system can lead to delays in selling deceased properties, which can remain vacant for several years.
* Councils may struggle to track down owners of empty homes, due to a lack of coherent data.
* The premium tax rates charged on empty homes could be used by councils to start their own loan schemes or provide funds for regeneration projects. The article also highlights the need for a statutory duty for councils to address long-term empty homes and investigate the reasons behind them. This would require council leaders to take more proactive steps in addressing the issue, rather than simply relying on existing powers. A recent development is that the Labour government has announced plans to give local authorities more power to force landlords to rent out empty homes. However, it remains to be seen how this will be implemented and what impact it will have on addressing the long-term empty home problem. Overall, the article suggests that addressing long-term empty homes requires a comprehensive approach that involves multiple stakeholders and solutions. It highlights the need for councils to take proactive steps in addressing the issue, supported by legislation and resources from central government. Some potential strategies that could be explored include:
* Increasing funding for regeneration projects
* Improving data collection and analysis to better understand the scale of the problem and identify effective solutions
* Providing support and incentives for individuals and organizations to bring empty homes back into use
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