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  1. The empty homes challenge
  2. The solutions

The solutions

The Solutions

If we all take action together we can radically reduce the number of empty homes across the country.

Take action in your local community

Individuals and local housing activist groups have taken community-led action to create new projects to bringing empty homes back into use.  Contact Brighid Carey if you want to take local action.

Elected councillors can play an important role

Local councillors have played a crucial role in tackling empty homes by developing strategies to support local communities and individuals who want to take action.  If you are a local councillor or an officer and want to get involved, then email Chris Bailey.

Get involved in our London focused ‘Buy to Leave’ project.

London has tens of thousands of properties bought by wealthy investors, who may leave them empty to store of wealth or to sell-on at a profit. Some investors may use them in other ways which generate a profit without offering anyone a home - these include 'whole home' year-round Airbnb lets.  In the second half of 2019, we held a public conversation (and commissioned opinion research) on what the GLA and the Government should be doing to stop this practice. The results of that phase of the project were published in April 2020 as our 'Pretty Vacant' report on how wealth investment restricts access to housing in London. We also reviewed the international situation and policy responses around the world, in our earlier publication 'Homes Without Residents'. To get involved with the next phase of this project get in touch with Will McMahon or  Chris Bailey.

Join our campaign for government investment

We are calling for the government to invest in tackling empty homes. Our call for targeted investment has been supported by a wide range of organisations through the Coalition for Community Investment, read more on the Coalition here. We were also supported in our call for urgent investment and a review of the powers available to local authorities by the Nationwide Building Society who supported our publication Empty Homes in England 2019 and the 2019 National Empty Homes Week. Nationwide also started a campaign on the issue amongst its members and called for action by the new Government shortly after the December 2019 General Election. In the summer of 2019, we called for a National Action on Empty Homes Partnership to deliver three things:

  • Government investment to tackle the growth in empty homes
  • Local Authority commitment to developing strategies for community-led solutions for empty homes 
  • Community-led action to refurbish empty homes in local communities. 

Please let us know if you want to become a supporter by emailing info (at) actiononemtpyhomes.org

Stay in touch by joining our e-bulletin list.

Our e-bulletins are short and snappy but will keep you up to speed on what is going on both nationally and internationally on empty homes. Email Chris Bailey with 'Bulletin' in the subject line.

Published: 18th January, 2019

Updated: 21st July, 2020

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  • 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

    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.

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