Government Urged to Use Empty Homes as Fast Fix for Homelessness Crisis
Housing sector leaders are pressing the government to address England's escalating homelessness crisis by bringing hundreds of thousands of empty properties back into use. In a joint letter to Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook MP, organisations including Shelter, Big Issue, and Resonance argue that this approach represents one of the quickest and most effective solutions to the housing shortage.
Scale of the Problem and Proposed Solutions
Estimates suggest over one million homes in England are currently unoccupied, with more than 309,000 classified as long-term empty. The letter, signed by 25 housing charities, social investors, and local government leaders, calls for a national strategy to refurbish 300,000 of these properties. This initiative is described as "one of the quickest, greenest and most cost-effective ways to increase housing supply" and could help alleviate the social rent shortfall, benefiting society's most vulnerable individuals.
The proposed strategy includes several key measures:
- Introducing a fully-funded duty for local authorities to investigate and act on complaints about long-term empty homes.
- Implementing a nationally funded loan scheme, along with acquisition and enforcement funds to support refurbishment efforts.
- Replacing the current new homes bonus system with a reward scheme that incentivises successful interventions on empty properties.
Current Housing Crisis Statistics
The urgency of this issue is underscored by recent data. There are now 1.3 million households on waiting lists for social housing in England, marking a 10% increase over the past two years. Concurrently, the number of people in temporary accommodation has risen to over 380,000, up 8% in just one year. These figures highlight the growing strain on housing resources and the need for immediate action.
Government Response and Existing Measures
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has acknowledged the problem, stating that its English devolution white paper will enhance local authorities' abilities to manage empty homes. Existing powers already allow councils to charge additional council tax on properties left vacant for a year and provide grant funding to bring homes back into use. The government has also committed to building 1.5 million new homes by 2029, with an aim for 300,000 to be social housing, alongside a £39 billion investment in social and affordable housing.
Expert Opinions and Calls for Action
John Bird, founder of Big Issue and a crossbench peer, emphasised the need for proactive measures: "In a stubborn housing crisis like this one, we need to turn every house in the UK into a useful property that is being used." He added that the 309,000 long-term empty homes present a "smart opportunity" to address systemic failures, warning against reliance on temporary solutions that drain public finances and harm children's prospects.
An MHCLG spokesperson reiterated the government's commitment, saying: "Having empty homes is bad for communities and we're fixing this as part of our plans to restore the dream of homeownership in London and across the country." They urged councils to utilise existing powers to ensure empty homes are repurposed promptly.
