The empty homes challenge Why empty homes matter Why empty homes matter There are too many homes lying empty Latest Government data shows that over 216,000 homes in England have been empty for over six months. In all, over 600,000 homes are currently vacant. Leaving homes empty is a waste We believe that we cannot afford to waste such properties. England needs over 300,000 additional homes each year. Bringing empty homes into use helps neighbourhoods There are neighbourhoods with clusters of empty homes. Tackling empty homes in these areas should be part of wider neighbourhood initiatives that start from the perspective of the issues people face there. It makes environmental sense Creating homes from empty properties saves substantial amounts of material compared to building new homes, minimises the amount of land used for development and avoids wasting embedded carbon; helping to combat climate change.