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 to improve both national and local communication around the issue and its relation to our national housing crisis.
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

Community Action on Empty Homes - Developing the new AEH Community Toolkit:

Latest update on the Community Action on the Empty Homes Toolkit we’re developing for communities and local authorities to use together by Brighid Carey who is leading on this project
Estimating ‘buy to leave’ in Kensington & Chelsea

Data from the latest Council Taxbase reveals Kensington & Chelsea has the highest proportion of long-term empty homes in London. Furthermore, 10% of the borough's homes are classed as 'second homes'. Chujan Sivathasan uses data from Jonathan Bourne at UCL and draws on Dr Rex Atkinson's work on 'Anchoring Wealth: The grounded impact of international wealth chains on housing markets in London'
Using empty homes to regenerate communities - our report looks at how

Brighid Carey shows how affordable housing can be delivered from empty homes through collaboration with communities
How Lambeth fought back to save Nour

Jack Baillie reports on how people in Lambeth fought back against the destructive effects of wealth investment in their community

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.
'Not the right housing'

Increase in long-term empties discredits rise in house building, says Action on Empty Homes, as London empty homes numbers rise to 25,000. Speculation mounts that unsold newbuild is contributing as Hounslow tops national figures with 158% rise.
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
Best practice resources

As well as reports on our work with community-based demonstration projects, bringing empty homes into use, this area will feature our upcoming Best Practise Toolkits. These will include a Toolkit for local authority officers, a Community Toolkit and links to sources of advice.

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.
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.
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
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.
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
Estimating ‘buy to leave’ in Kensington & Chelsea

Data from the latest Council Taxbase reveals Kensington & Chelsea has the highest proportion of long-term empty homes in London. Furthermore, 10% of the borough's homes are classed as 'second homes'. Chujan Sivathasan uses data from Jonathan Bourne at UCL and draws on Dr Rex Atkinson's work on 'Anchoring Wealth: The grounded impact of international wealth chains on housing markets in London'
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.
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.