Facts and figures

Action on Empty Homes publishes the most authoritative guide to empty homes data

See the latest numbers in your area for 2019 - based on Government data published Nov 2019 click here

Our commentary on the new Council Taxbase 2019 figure for Long-term empty homes, which shows a third consecutive year on year rise to 226,000 is here

Each year Action on Empty Homes analyses the Government’s official data on long-term empty homes, producing the only comprehensive analysis of this data.

This is published as a report entitled ‘Empty Homes in England’ the 2019 edition can be downloaded from Monday September 23rd here

See the latest numbers in your area for 2019 - based on Government data published Nov 2019 click here

To see what happened in your area in 2018 (last year) click here

You can read the most recent ComRes polling of MPs views about empty homes policy, published at the end of 2018 here

Government Statistics

Each year the government publishes data on vacant dwellings for each local authority and for England as a whole. This data is derived from local authority Council Taxbase data, which is a snapshot of the position in October each year.

To view the long-term empty homes data please go to table 615 vacant dwellings: you can access the latest Government statistical release here

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-dwelling-stock-including-vacants

We summarise the data by region and county and include numbers, change and levels for each local authority here

In this year's Empty Homes in England 2019 report published Monday 23rd September 2019 we also look at the prevalence of homes classified as 'second homes' if you are interested in this data you can see the levels by local authority, regionally and nationally, here

We advise reading the notes that come with the data before using the statistics. From Monday 23rd September 2019 our new edition of Empty Homes in England will also be available to shed light on the data.

If you would like to discuss this with us further please get in touch at [email protected]

For media enquiries please click here for details of how to contact the team and for further information

Latest

A new Toolkit for communities and local authorities.

Brighid Carey outlines our new project developing a Toolkit which aims to help bring local authorities and communities together into informed, knowledgeable partnerships to bring empty homes into use.
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'
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.

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
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
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
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.
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'
National Empty Homes Week 2019 Sept 23rd - 29th

This year the housing crisis has intensified as long-term empty homes numbers rose by nearly 11,000 to over 216,000 focusing public attention on the problem
Accessibility
Facts and figures

Government publish data on vacant dwellings for each local authority and for England as a whole. Action on Empty Homes publishes the most authoritative guide to empty homes data and each year we analyse the official data on long-term empty homes, producing the only comprehensive analysis of this data.