Housing Crisis Leaves Homes Empty in UK

Britain's Ghost Houses: A National Scandal Amid a Deepening Housing Crisis

Across the United Kingdom, a stark contradiction lies at the heart of a severe housing crisis. While more than 1.2 million households languish on social housing waiting lists, and thousands experience the hardship of homelessness, a vast and growing number of properties sit silent and unused. These are the nation's ghost houses, a forgotten housing stock that campaigners argue could provide the key to alleviating the deepening housing emergency. The sheer scale of the issue is staggering, representing not just a squandered chance but a blight on communities from bustling city centres to quiet suburban streets. Every unoccupied dwelling is a potential residence for a family, a young person starting out, or someone in desperate need of stability. Their vacancy is a challenge that demands urgent and multifaceted solutions.

Image Credit - BBC

A Neighbourhood's Constant Fear

In a tranquil Bristol neighbourhood, Ann Devereaux’s home of twenty-five years stands next to a source of constant stress. The adjacent building is derelict, falling apart, and infested with vermin. This abandoned structure has become more than an eyesore; it is now a focal point for criminal activity and antisocial behaviour. The situation fosters a sense of fear, as the abandoned space is available for improper use, attracting everything from drug dealing to fly-tipping. The emotional toll of living beside such decay is immense. The stench of rotting rubbish drifts into nearby homes, and residents have seen violent altercations right outside their front doors. The recent collapse of the derelict's roof, which sent swarms of rats into neighbouring gardens, highlights the escalating danger these properties pose to public health and safety.

The True Scale of the Wastage

The problem extends far beyond a single Bristol street. Throughout England, the quantity of long-term empty homes—properties vacant for at least half a year—stood at over 272,000 in early 2025. This represents a slight but steady increase from previous years and is a figure large enough to house over 650,000 people. Analysis reveals that this is not a localised issue, with significant numbers of vacant properties in the North East and North West, as well as in London boroughs like Kingston upon Thames and Southwark. The total estimated value of these empty dwellings is a staggering £79.1 billion, a vast amount of capital locked away and decaying while the nation's housing emergency intensifies.

The Community-Wide Blight

The impact of a single vacant property can send damaging ripples throughout an entire neighbourhood. Experts warn that one neglected house can trigger a downward spiral of neglect, devaluing surrounding homes and fostering an atmosphere of decay. This deterioration often leads to practical consequences for residents, including rising insurance premiums and an increased burden on local emergency services, who are frequently called to deal with vandalism, squatting, and fires. Beyond the financial costs, the erosion of community spirit is profound. Boarded-up windows and overgrown gardens undermine neighbourhood confidence and can deter potential buyers, trapping existing residents in a declining area and fraying the social fabric that holds communities together.

A Council's Uphill Battle

Local authorities like Bristol City Council find themselves at the forefront of tackling the vacant homes problem, often fighting an uphill battle. The council mandated the derelict St Werburgh's proprietor to secure the structure, but residents contend that the predicament is deteriorating. This illustrates the significant challenges councils face. They are assigned the task of locating and engaging with property owners, a process that can be laborious and often yields no response. While they possess certain enforcement powers, these are frequently complex, time-consuming, and resource-intensive to implement. The result is a frustrating cycle where dangerous and disruptive properties are left to decay, despite the council's ongoing monitoring and threats of further action.

The Human Cost of Empty Homes

The most devastating contrast to the quarter-million empty homes is the number of people without a secure place to live. In autumn 2024, nearly 4,700 people were recorded sleeping outdoors in England, marking a third consecutive annual increase and reaching a near-record number. Beyond this visible crisis, over 131,000 households, including tens of thousands of children, are trapped in temporary accommodation. This precarious existence, often in unsuitable and costly B&Bs or hostels, comes at a huge expense to the public purse. Campaigners from organisations like Action on Empty Homes argue it is a moral failure that so many potential homes lie wasted while families are denied stability.

A Bristol Charity's Innovative Solution

Amid the crisis, innovative solutions are emerging. In Bristol, the charity 1625 Independent People is transforming the problem of unused buildings into an opportunity for young adults at risk of homelessness. Through its Future Builders programme, the organisation renovates derelict houses, turning them into affordable rented homes. This provides not only a roof over a young person's head but also a chance to learn valuable construction and life skills. The programme directly tackles both the housing shortage and the barriers to stability for vulnerable young adults, demonstrating a practical and impactful way to reclaim wasted resources for the community's benefit.

Building Futures from Neglect

The story of Becky Hopkins showcases the transformative power of such initiatives. At just eighteen, she found herself homeless, a lonely and isolating experience that left her struggling with feelings of self-loathing and constant worry. The Future Builders programme provided a lifeline. Access to an affordable, stable place to live gave her the security needed to focus on her mental well-being and cultivate healthier routines. This foundation was life-changing. Now twenty-one, Becky is in training to become an engineer for the Royal Navy, a transformation she once believed impossible. Her journey underscores how a secure home can be the critical first step towards a stable and successful future.

The Toothless Enforcement Tool

For years, the primary weapon for councils against stubbornly empty homes has been a legal mechanism known as an Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO). Introduced in 2004, an EDMO allows a local authority to assume management of a property that has been vacant for an extended period, carry out repairs, and rent it out. However, this power has proven to be largely ineffective. The process is notoriously lengthy and complicated, and changes made in 2012, which increased the required vacancy period to two years, further weakened the tool. As a result, EDMOs are rarely used, with applications dropping to an all-time low in recent years, leaving councils without an effective last resort.

Campaigning for Stronger Powers

In response to the ineffectiveness of current measures, the Local Government Association and campaign groups are calling for significant legal reform. They argue that councils need more robust, streamlined powers to restore vacant properties. Key demands include simplifying the EDMO process to create a more viable option and providing greater resources for enforcement teams. Campaigners believe that with the right tools, councils could more effectively hold neglectful owners accountable and intervene before properties fall into serious disrepair, turning neighbourhood liabilities back into valuable community assets. A new country-wide empty homes programme is a central demand.

Image Credit - BBC

The Welsh Model: A Path Forward?

In Wales, the government has taken a proactive approach with a £50 million initiative called the National Empty Homes Scheme. Launched in 2023, the programme offers grants as high as £25,000 to help owners renovate properties that have been unoccupied for at least a year. The goal is to make these dwellings safe and habitable, with a condition that the applicant must live in the property as their main residence for at least five years after the work is complete. This initiative, developed in partnership with local authorities, aims to return up to 2,000 properties to use, providing a potential template for how targeted investment can effectively tackle the issue.

Tackling "Zombie Homes"

Recent analysis has highlighted the rise of so-called "zombie homes"—properties left to decay for years, often uninhabitable and locked in legal limbo. Across England, over 50,000 homes are considered long-term vacant, with nearly half of them sitting empty for over two years. These properties, concentrated in London and northern post-industrial towns, tie up an estimated £13.6 billion in capital. According to property groups, many of these homes are caught in probate delays or legal disputes, or are simply ignored by owners unwilling to deal with maintenance and tax penalties, creating a silent stockpile of decaying housing stock.

The Probate and Renovation Hurdles

The reasons behind empty homes are often complex. When a person dies, their home frequently stays vacant for years during the probate period, a legal process for assessing and distributing their estate. For inheritors like Jenni Sadler, who received her mother's house as an inheritance in 2011, the experience can be bittersweet. The residence had deteriorated, and the escalating expenses for critical repairs became a significant financial burden. Discovering more areas needing attention, she struggled to secure the necessary funds, leaving the house unoccupied for three years as the renovation work continued. Her story highlights a common predicament for those who inherit homes that require substantial investment.

Offering a Financial Lifeline

For owners who want to renovate but lack the funds, social enterprises are providing a crucial lifeline. Organisations like Lendology work with local councils to provide low-interest financing specifically designed to help renovate vacant dwellings. By securing such a loan, Jenni Sadler was able to move forward with the necessary work on her mother's property. These financial schemes are vital, as they provide a practical solution that empowers responsible owners to overcome the financial barriers to renovation. This allows them to finish the upgrades needed to make a property habitable, with many, like Ms. Sadler, hoping to then rent the home out, contributing to the housing supply.

The Second Home Dilemma

The issue of vacant properties is compounded by the growing number of second homes and short-term lets, particularly in tourist hotspots. These properties, while not technically derelict, are removed from the long-term rental market, placing further pressure on local housing availability and affordability. In response, the government is empowering local authorities to charge a council tax premium on second homes. Starting in April 2025, councils in England can impose a 100% premium, effectively doubling the standard rate for properties that are furnished but not used as a primary residence. This policy aims to discourage the practice of leaving homes empty for much of the year.

Turning Up the Tax Pressure

The government has progressively strengthened the financial disincentives for leaving homes empty. As of April 2024, councils can charge double council tax (a 100% premium) on properties that have been unoccupied and unfurnished for just one year, down from the previous two-year threshold. The penalties escalate sharply from there. Homes left empty for between five and ten years can face a 200% premium (triple the standard tax), while those vacant for over a decade can be charged a 300% premium (four times the standard tax). These measures are designed to render it financially unviable for owners to simply sit on empty properties.

A Last Resort: Compulsory Purchase

When all other avenues of engagement fail, councils have the power of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) as a final resort. This allows them to acquire a property without the owner's consent in order to make it habitable again. However, much like EDMOs, CPOs are used sparingly. The process is expensive, legally complex, and can take years to complete, making it an unappealing option for cash-strapped local authorities. Despite these difficulties, CPOs remain a critical, if challenging, tool for dealing with the most problematic and persistent cases of vacant and derelict properties that blight a community.

Community-Led Regeneration

A more grassroots solution is gaining traction through the work of Community Land Trusts (CLTs) and other community-led housing projects. These organisations are intervening to acquire and renovate empty properties, often in partnership with local councils and housing associations. Through this, they can provide genuinely affordable housing that is owned and managed by the community itself. This bottom-up approach not only restores dwellings but also empowers local residents, strengthens community bonds, and ensures that the reclaimed properties serve the long-term needs of the neighbourhood, creating a lasting and sustainable impact.

Retrofitting: A Greener Solution

Advocates for tackling empty homes emphasise that renovation is a far more sustainable solution than new construction. Retrofitting an existing house requires significantly fewer materials and has a much smaller carbon footprint than building from scratch. It is also often cheaper and faster. Transforming these unused buildings into energy-efficient homes not only helps meet housing targets but also supports the development of a local green skills economy. Every retrofitted home represents a small victory in the fight against climate change, proving that the nation's housing emergency and the environmental crisis can be tackled in tandem with smart, sustainable policies.

A Future Without Ghost Houses

The existence of hundreds of thousands of unoccupied dwellings is a solvable national scandal. The solutions are not singular but require a multi-pronged attack. This includes giving councils the enhanced powers and funding they have long called for, providing financial support and guidance to owners struggling with renovation costs, and championing the innovative models pioneered by charities and community groups. It also requires a continued commitment to financial penalties that make long-term vacancy an untenable choice. With a combination of robust national policy and empowered local action, the UK can begin to turn these ghost houses back into homes, providing stability for families and revitalising communities.