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

Prime London sellers return to market

The latest analysis from Beham and Reeves has found that the number of homes listed for sale at £2m or above across Prime Central London increased during the second quarter of 2026, although performance continues to vary considerably between the capital’s most prestigious neighbourhoods.   Benham and Reeves analysed current Prime Central London property listings…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

What to know when buying land

The closure of UK Land & Farms (UKLAF) has left a significant gap in the UK’s specialist land market with buyers and sellers now forced to adapt after 18 years of relying on UKLAF as the cornerstone of the industry. As interest in land continues to grow, the company says the closure also serves as…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

Tenant demand strong, landlord supply shrinking

New RICS data shows tenant demand at its strongest in over a year – while landlord supply keeps shrinking. That’s not bad luck. It’s a trust problem, and it’s fixable. “These numbers should be good news for landlords. Demand is the strongest it’s been in over a year. Instead, they are deciding to head for…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

Why Join a Letting Agents Association?

Why Every Letting Agent Should Join a Professional Body The lettings industry continues to evolve, with new legislation, increasing compliance requirements and higher expectations from landlords and tenants alike. For letting agents, staying informed and operating to recognised professional standards has never been more important. Joining a letting agents association provides far more than a membership…
Read More →
Breaking News

House price growth remained subdued in July

UK annual house price growth slowed to 1.8% in July, from 2.2% in June House prices were up 0.1% month on month Average time in a home is 14 years: 24 years for those owning outright and 5 years in private rented sector Three quarters of moves were within same tenure type in 2024/25 Headlines…
Read More →
Breaking News

Rent hikes and tighter tenant checks as landlord costs climb

Rising costs are prompting 63% of professional landlords to raise rents, prioritise lower-risk tenants and reassess portfolios Renters face a more expensive and more selective rental market as professional property investors respond to re-emergence of realistic gilt yields, rising operating costs and regulatory change by increasing rents and reassessing tenant risk and selection criteria, according…
Read More →