Publications and Research

The latest Government data shows over 226,000 properties in England have stood empty for more than six months. We analyse official data and research effective solutions, producing the only comprehensive analysis.

Latest Publications

You can download our latest publications here. These include 'Pretty Vacant ' our new report April 2020 report on London's housing crisis and it's sister publication from our London wealth investment project, 'Homes Without Residents' (Jan 2020), 'Empty Homes in England 2019' published 23rd September 2019 (prior to the latest rise in numbers announced at the end of 2019), our comprehensive annual analysis of Government data; and the final report on our three-year programme of work with community housing providers 'Community action on empty homes - Using empty homes to regenerate communities' (published May 2019).

The first phase report on this programme is also available entitled 'Community-based approaches in areas with high levels of empty homes'.

Empty Homes in England - a comprehensive analysis of the empty homes problem is England:

Each year we publish a Report entitled Empty Homes in England. This is the only comprehensive independent analysis of Government's annual figures on empty homes. The 2019 edition was published on Monday 23rd September 2019 and is available here for free download.

For the latest analysis of new figures as Government publishes these, see our media releases, here

You can read ComRes polling of MPs views about empty homes and the national housing crisis here

Types of publications:

We produce four types of publications:

1) Campaign publications which advocate for policy responses to end the waste of empty homes, for example: the work of the Coalition for Community Investment

2) Research and analysis on the empty homes issue: This includes our annual analysis of official Government data on empty homes, 'Empty Homes in England'

For the latest official data on empty homes number in local authorities in England click here

We also publish reports examing regional and local aspects of the issue and the factors underlying these, for example our 2016 report, based on our research with local authorities and communities ‘Empty Homes: Why do some areas have higher levels’ and the new report from our investigation into London housing and wealth investment 'Homes Without Residents' (Jan 2020)

3) Project reports on practical solutions to the problem of empty homes such as 'Community action on empty homes - Using empty homes to regenerate communities'. and 'Community-based approaches in areas with high levels of empty homes'.

Or 'Affordable homes from empty commercial spaces'.

4) Toolkits to support those working in the field - the latest of these is our 2019 'Legal Toolkit: How to use the law to best effect to get empty homes back into use: a short guide on the legal options available to local authorities'

The Action on Empty Homes Legal Toolkit was produced with support from Devonshires.

Current publications:

Media enquiries:

For comment on our research or further information on the waste of empty homes, the solutions and our campaigns please click here - you can also access recent press releases and contact details via this link

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.

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.

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.