Our story

Action on Empty Homes was established in 1992 to try to ensure that empty homes in England are brought back into use for those in housing need.

We have built our reputation not only as campaigners but in developing practical ideas on how to bring empty homes back into use. These ideas have been adopted as national policy and also local practice. Our track record of campaigning has put the charity in a good position to influence decision-makers and to do more to tackle the waste of empty homes in England.

Our focus is on ensuring empty homes are brought back into use for those priced out of decent housing across England or in housing need, for example, due to disability or long-term health problems.

Our influence has been enhanced over the last two decades through building our reputation as the 'go to' place for media comment, as well as for a thorough analysis of both the causes of empty homes and what works in bringing them back into use.

Since 2000, Action on Empty Homes has played a significant role in campaigning to ensure:

Removing automatic Council Tax discounts on empty properties (from 2013).
Councils being able to charge more Council Tax on empty homes (from 2013).
Government funding of empty homes schemes from 2011-2015.
The New Homes Bonus being applied to long-term empty properties returned to use (2010).
The reduction of the rate of VAT charged on empty homes renovation work (from 2007).
The creation of Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO) powers for councils to tackle long-term empty homes (from 2004).

Latest

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

London 'buy to leave' and wealth investment project supported by Trust for London. Looking at how wealth investment distorts London housing delivery.
'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.
Housing Campaigners meet to discuss 'Buy-to-Leave' in London

Oct 17th saw Action on Empty Homes hold a campaign meeting for local housing activists on 'buy to leave' and wealth investment in London residential property

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
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.
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
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'
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.
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.