Publications and Research

The latest Government data shows over 268,000 properties in England have stood empty for more than six months, while total vacancy now stands at over 665,000 (excluding so-called 263,000 'second homes'). We analyse official data and research effective solutions, producing the only comprehensive analysis.

For the latest fact and figures click here

For media enquiries click here

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'.

In May 2021 we launch the second phase of the programme our Community Action on Empty Homes Toolkit

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

What is happening to Brent's Housing? Public Meeting 27th May

London housing development is driven by frantic corporate and wealth investment activity. New hi-rise blocks spring up but these are overwhelmingly private and often contain empty and underutilised flats. Meanwhile, council homes, which provide decent and affordable housing for those on low incomes, are slated for demolition or sell-offs across the capital. Action on Empty Homes London borough meetings explore housing pressure in the capital - Camden Meeting 27th May 6.30pm
Community Action on Empty Homes Toolkit

Our new Toolkit is designed to encourage partnerships between local councils and communities to bring empty homes back into use, to meet local housing needs.
Come to Your Borough Meeting: What is happening to London's Housing? Upcoming meeting: Brent 27th May

In Spring 2021, Action on Empty Homes is hosting London borough meetings to ask why the new high-rise blocks we see springing up all around us are not reducing the numbers in temporary accommodation? See info from the Camden, Haringey, Southwark and Hackney meetings
Looking for the empty homes in Bromley

A supporter of our campaign to bring empties back into use has been examining the evidence on his doorstep in Bromley

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.

How do I find the owner of an abandoned property?

Action on Empty Homes does not have the capacity to assist individuals or property developers in locating the owners of individual empty properties, but we can access expert advice for you and there are a number of ways in which the owner may be located, these are listed here:
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.
National Empty Homes Week 2021 starts 15th Feb as we call for action on massive rise in empties

National Empty Homes Week 15 – 21 Feb: Action on Empty Homes calls for Government action on escalating numbers of long-term empties . Numbers rose in 9 out of ten council areas. The 42,540 rise in 2020 was the fourth successive annual rise in numbers, but larger than the previous three years’ rises combined.
Current Projects

We are developing a toolkit for community-led empty homes projects and working on tackling wealth investor ‘buy to leave’ in London and through the Global Empty Homes Network. We are also building a national coalition to call for government investment in empty homes.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.