How many empty homes are there in England?

June 30, 2022

The total number of empty dwellings as at 13 September 2021 was 468,000 – a decrease of 11,000 or 2.4% on the previous year as quoted on the official government website: Local Authority Council Tax base England 2021

Long term empty homes are dwellings which are unoccupied for a period of 6 months or more and substantially unfurnished.

In amongst this subject are second homes which account for 243,134 in 2021. Thanks to the likes of hard work or inheritance, a few people enjoy a second home in the UK. Sometimes this can be a rural retreat to get anyway from urban life woes, maybe it is a tiny cottage by the sea so to unwind or maybe it is reversed with the second home the likes of an apartment in the city. This excludes those owning a second home as a rental property.

In London, the number of empty homes rose from 30,548 to 32,818 between 2020 and 2021. The areas with the most empty homes were Southwark (2,705) and Newham (2,246). source MSN

Empty property do not go unnoticed. Be it by the neighbours lodging complaints to local authorities when maintenance becomes an issue to hungry property buyers looking to bag a bargain, empty homes do attract attention. Not all empty homes are evident and rarely will they be left to fall in to total disrepair.

Dream home sat empty for decades – On the western shore of Hollingworth Lake, Rochdale, sits a bungalow that has never been lived in. source manchestereveningnews

If you have a keen eye for spotting empty homes or are close to the local gossip then there are websites where you can share the addresses with to get not only a gift vouchers, but up to £10,000 if the property gets purchased from your information – Check out You Spot Property.

How to spot a long term empty / abandoned property:

  • Overgrown / untidy gardens.
  • Boarded up windows / doors.
  • Missing tiles / broken & blocked guttering / drains.
  • Mounting post.
  • Empty rooms.
  • No lights on during evenings.
  • No vehicles outside for prolonged period.

Action on Empty Homes is calling on Westminster leaders to launch a national empty homes strategy, saying £200 million is needed to support local authorities to bring long-term unused houses in England back into use. source bigissue

 

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Breaking Property News 27/10/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.     Who controls the infrastructure, data and intelligence that runs inside commercial buildings? By Author Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR Commercial real estate owners have invested heavily in technology to improve building operations, connect tenants and monitor performance. Yet behind the growing number of systems…
Read More →
Breaking News

35% of UK homes are in postcode areas where house prices are falling

House price falls spread to a third of homes as sellers face growing competition for buyers More than a third (35 per cent) of UK homes are in postcode areas where house prices are falling, up from 12 per cent a year ago Price falls are concentrated in London and the South East where 85…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Budget wishlist

Kevin Shaw, National Sales Managing Director at LRG With the Budget just days away, the property market is in a slightly better place than it was this time last year. Stamp Duty has been ruled out of this year’s changes, which removes the kind of speculation that held buyers and sellers back last autumn. The…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Autumn Budget 2026: Property industry experts comment

Ahead of Wednesday’s Autumn Budget, property industry experts from across the residential sales, lettings, land and property development, mortgage finance and client money protection sectors have shared their predictions, priorities and warnings for the Chancellor. With speculation surrounding property taxation, first-time buyer support, landlord investment, inheritance tax and housebuilding, industry leaders outline what Wednesday’s announcements…
Read More →
Adding second coat of varnish floor boards
Estate Agent Talk

5 Renovations That Can Transform a Property Before It Goes on the Market

Ask a vendor what they plan to fix before listing and the answer is often too ambitious. A loft conversion won’t be finished in time, and it rarely pays back on a quick sale. The changes that actually move a listing are smaller and cheaper, and they show up in the photos. Here are five…
Read More →
Breaking News

Seven things to do if a tree damages your property

Storm Austen and Storm Boelo are bringing strong winds and heavy rain across the UK this weekend, meaning homeowners could find themselves dealing with fallen trees, damaged roofs, crushed cars and difficult conversations with neighbours about who should pay. But what should you do if a neighbour’s tree comes crashing through your roof? Will your…
Read More →