What we do

Action on Empty Homes campaigns for empty homes to be brought into use for people in housing need

Our aims are to:

Raise awareness of the waste of long-term empty homes.
Campaign for changes to national policy.
Support local communities in transforming their neighbourhoods.
Provide advice for those seeking to bring empty homes back into use.
Research and develop ideas for bringing long-term empty homes back into use for those in housing need.

What MPs think: Read ComRes research on MPs attitudes to Empty Homes and the Housing Crisis here

Film from HuffPost:

To see how community-led organisations can bring empty homes back to use, with benefits for the whole community, see this recent HuffPost film featuring the great work of Canopy Housing in Leeds, creating homes from empty homes. In the film Action on Empty Homes also look at the wider picture and the issues which unite empty homes in high and lower value markets around the country: https://bit.ly/2RHCWGY

Annual Reports:

Annual Report and Accounts 2020

Annual Report and Accounts 2019

Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Annual Report and Accounts 2017

Annual Report and Accounts 2016

Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Latest

National Empty Homes Week 2021 sees huge response and calls for Government to act

During National Empty Homes Week 2021 local councils joined Action on Empty Homes in calling for a new Empty Homes Programme from Government backed by new powers and investment, alongside support for action driven by local communities.
Come to Your Borough Meeting: What is happening to London's Housing?

This March, 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? First 3 meetings are: Southwark Thursday 4th March, Hackney Tuesday 9th March, Haringey Tuesday 16th March.
Councils call on Government to Act on Empty Homes

Latest figures for England show there are 127,240 children living in temporary accommodation, including 1,440 households with children in bed and breakfasts. The LGA representing all councils says the number spending lockdown in temporary accommodation reinforces the urgent need for the Government to ensure building more affordable homes to rent and for action on empty homes.
Council's need better powers to act on empties - why it is time for a 'no fault' EDMO

When Empty Dwelling Management Orders were introduced the powers they offered were curtailed, they are now used less than envisaged and councils are calling for reform

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.
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.
Council's need better powers to act on empties - why it is time for a 'no fault' EDMO

When Empty Dwelling Management Orders were introduced the powers they offered were curtailed, they are now used less than envisaged and councils are calling for reform
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.