Take Action

Action on Empty Homes wants to work with all those who want to tackle the problem of empty homes across England.

How you can get involved:

Subscribe to our monthly e-bulletin to get the latest news and information - email [email protected] with 'subscribe to bulletin' in the subject header.
Become an Action on Empty Homes Local Contact - we are building a network of local contacts. You might want to get involved in campaigning on empty homes as a housing justice issue or work with others in your community to refurbish empty homes.
If you are part of a local housing justice group invite us to come and speak to your group about taking action on empty homes.
Support our local election campaigns - every year we will be campaigning on empty homes where local elections are taking place.
Become a campaign volunteer - we welcome volunteers who are willing to give up some of their own time to help us. If you want to help with media campaigns, or policy and research – click here for details or just get in touch for a discussion.

However you want to get involved, just get in touch at to [email protected]

Latest

Metro features powerful examination of rising empty homes numbers as housing crisis and pandemic worsen

National daily Metro put rising numbers of wasted empty homes in the context of the wider housing crisis and the plight of those at the sharp end. The paper spoke to us about how empties and homelessness are both rising.
Why Nigeria's millions of empty homes count

In Nigeria ..“newly built luxury dwellings are springing up throughout cities made possible often through forced eviction of poor communities. These units do not fulfil any housing need, with many remaining vacant as vehicles for money laundering or investment.” Leilani Farha, September 2019, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Adequate Housing
Will the last investor leaving Southwark please turn out the lights.. until Airbnb is back in business

New Government data shows how the Coronavirus pandemic shines a light on how we keep on building housing which doesn't house anyone: so homelessness rises, affordability declines and home ownership drops. Southwark is the canary in this particular coalmine.
Massive 20% rise in empty homes up over 42,000 to 268,385 while 100,000 families are stuck in Temporary Accommodation

Government data released today shows a massive year on year rise of over 42,000 to a total of 268,385 long-term empty homes in England, as nearly 100,000 families languish in temporary accommodation. This is the biggest rise since current records began.

Metro features powerful examination of rising empty homes numbers as housing crisis and pandemic worsen

National daily Metro put rising numbers of wasted empty homes in the context of the wider housing crisis and the plight of those at the sharp end. The paper spoke to us about how empties and homelessness are both rising.
Massive 20% rise in empty homes up over 42,000 to 268,385 while 100,000 families are stuck in Temporary Accommodation

Government data released today shows a massive year on year rise of over 42,000 to a total of 268,385 long-term empty homes in England, as nearly 100,000 families languish in temporary accommodation. This is the biggest rise since current records began.
Can New Zealand’s new Labour Government turn round decades of housing failure?

Our research volunteer Bill Golden asks whether Jacinda Ardern's landslide victory on the back of tackling the pandemic and domestic terrorism stands her in good stead to deal with New Zealand's knottiest public policy challenge - its longstanding housing crisis.
No Address? No Access To Services...

Chris Bailey explains how a ProxyAddress can help people facing homelessness and our campaign to turn proxy addresses into real addresses
Global Empty Homes Network Launches in UK, USA and Australia with call for worldwide housing protections during Covid Crisis

Action on Empty Homes, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and Prosper Australia, announce launch of the Global Empty Homes Network (GEHN). The three organizations, based in the UK, the US, and Australia will focus particularly on the mismatch between growing empty homes numbers and increasing housing need.
Public Meeting Playback Now Available: Empty Homes in the Alpha City

What is happening to London's housing supply and what can we do about it? With Speakers: Rowland Atkinson, Rex McKenzie, Loretta Lees View it all on YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/93Mh6J9HHTg
Pretty Vacant

Our new report on why the next 500 high-rise towers in London won't end the capitals's housing crisis. And how they will make it worse.
Coronavirus: How England's half a million empty homes can help the NHS - A Three Point Plan

We call on Government to adopt a 3 Point ‘Empty Homes Coronavirus Action Plan’ to meet the Coronavirus National Emergency. Govt data shows 226,000 long-term empty homes, 253,000 second homes in England; and 100,000 Airbnb lets standing empty all over the country. While many health workers are desperate for accommodation near their workplaces.
Homes Without Residents - new report

Our London housing project looks at 'buy to leave' and the impact of wealth investment in residential property. Raising critical questions over 100,000 London homes sucked out of residential supply, the role of Airbnb and so-called 'second homes'. Includes international survey of policy responses.
London Buy to Leave

The London 'buy to leave' and wealth investment project aims to start a public conversation about how wealth investment distorts London housing delivery, creating a housing market that does not meet Londoners' housing needs.

Will the last investor leaving Southwark please turn out the lights.. until Airbnb is back in business

New Government data shows how the Coronavirus pandemic shines a light on how we keep on building housing which doesn't house anyone: so homelessness rises, affordability declines and home ownership drops. Southwark is the canary in this particular coalmine.
Massive 20% rise in empty homes up over 42,000 to 268,385 while 100,000 families are stuck in Temporary Accommodation

Government data released today shows a massive year on year rise of over 42,000 to a total of 268,385 long-term empty homes in England, as nearly 100,000 families languish in temporary accommodation. This is the biggest rise since current records began.
Where are Haringey's Second Homes?

Why is Haringey the only council in the country not submitting crucial housing data to the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government?
Pretty Vacant

Our new report on why the next 500 high-rise towers in London won't end the capitals's housing crisis. And how they will make it worse.
What we do

Action on Empty Homes campaigns for empty homes to be brought into use for people in housing need. We raise awareness, campaign for policy change, provide advice and research and develop ideas to help bring empty homes into use
Empty Homes England 2019 is available now

Our new annual report on the state of the empty homes problem in England reports the second consecutive annual increase in numbers to over 216,000 and the fastest rise in a decade
Publications and Research

We produce four types of publications: Campaign publications advocating policy responses to end the waste of empty homes Research and analysis of the issue including Empty Homes in England, the only comprehensive annual analysis of official data Reports on active programmes to bring empty homes into use Practical toolkits to support those working in the field
Meet the team

Our staff team and Board of Trustees work closely together to ensure that Action on Empty Homes campaigns for change in the most effective way.
Why empty homes matter

There are over 216,000 homes long-term empty when England needs over 300,000 additional homes each year. Bringing long-term empty homes back into use will also help rebuild neighbourhoods and make environmental sense.
The solutions

We believe in community-led action to tackle empty homes, encouraged by active local authorities to support grassroots initiatives, underpinned by a government investment strategy to bring long-term empties back into use.