An open letter to Matthew Pennycook signed by charities, housing investors and local leaders highlights the 309,000 long term empty homes 

A coalition of 25 housing sector leaders have signed an open letter to housing minister Matthew Pennycook demanding a national strategy to urgently bring England’s 309,000 “long-term empty” homes back into use.

The letter, signed by 25 organisations, including Resonance, Shelter, Big Issue, and Refuge, proposes a national acquisition fund, council tax ringfencing, and stamp duty incentives. 

Empty homes

Resonance, alongside the Empty Homes Network, organised the open letter, which argues that while the government pursues its target of building 1.5 million new homes, refurbishing the 309,000 properties currently classed as long-term empty is one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways to increase housing supply. 

Daniel Brewer, CEO of Resonance, said: “The quickest and most sustainable way to house those in need is to unlock the potential of the buildings we already have. By implementing a National Empty Homes Strategy, the government can create a pathway for social investment to flow into local communities, de-risking the refurbishment of empty stock and creating settled, affordable housing at a fraction of the cost, and carbon footprint, of new builds. By creating the right policy framework now we have the ability to provide a solution to a problem faced by many across the nation.”

Adam Cliff, secretary of the Empty Homes Network, added: “With over a million empty homes - over 300,000 of those classed as long term empty - while thousands of families remain trapped in unsuitable temporary accommodation, we are overlooking a ready-made solution to the housing crisis.

“We’re asking the government to stop looking the other way and give local councils the funding and authority they need to turn these properties back into real homes for local people.”

The coalition’s proposed National Empty Homes Strategy recommends: a fully-funded local authority duty to investigate and act on long-term empty home complaints; national financial initiatives, including a loan scheme and a national acquisition fund; ringfencing Council Tax Premium revenue specifically for local housing initiatives; and tax incentives, such as reducing stamp duty for purchasers who use properties to provide social housing or pathways out of temporary accommodation.

 

Dear Matthew Pennycook MP,

We collectively call on government to create a national strategy to bring empty homes back into use.

With unaffordable rents, rising homelessness, record levels of temporary accommodation use and long waits for social housing, more than a million properties in England stand unoccupied, with over 309,000 classed as long-term empty. Each empty home represents a missed opportunity to provide settled housing, revitalise communities, and make efficient use of existing stock, whilst the government continues to work towards its target of building 1.5m new homes.

Giving empty buildings a new lease of life is one of the quickest, greenest and most cost-effective ways to increase housing supply. Refurbishing existing properties costs less than building new, stimulates employment, and contributes directly to Net Zero objectives. It can also address the country’s social rent housing shortfall and meet the need of society’s most vulnerable people, such people with disabilities, families experiencing homelessness, and survivors of domestic abuse.

Complementing new build construction, bringing a fraction of long-term empty properties back into use would deliver thousands of homes and regenerate neighbourhoods. Everybody wins.

With local authorities facing increased housing challenges, our recommendation is the creation of a new, standalone national empty homes strategy, including:

A fully-funded local authority duty to investigate and act on long-term empty homes complaints

National initiatives, such as a loan scheme, a national acquisition fund, and an enforcement fund

Replacing the New Homes Bonus system with rewards for successful empty homes interventions

Ringfencing Council Tax Premium revenue for local housing initiatives

Developing empty homes-specific enforcement powers

Reducing stamp duty for purchasers, where properties are used to meet local demand for social housing, and who provide homes for those on a pathway out of temporary accommodation

We urge you to champion this agenda in Parliament, to ensure that no property stands empty. Together, we can turn empty buildings into homes, and build a fairer, more sustainable housing system.

Signed,

Adam Cliff, Secretary, Empty Homes Network

Daniel Brewer, CEO, Resonance

Lord Bird, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Big Issue

Sarah Elliot, CEO, Shelter

Gemma Sherrington, CEO, Refuge

Farah Nazeer, CEO, Women’s Aid

Gemma Bourne, Managing Director - Head of Property, Better Society Capital

Rosie Phillips, CEO, DHI (Developing Health and Independence)

Rosie Cade, Founder, Rising Tide

Helen Berresford, Director of Engagaement, Nacro

Trystan Jones, CEO, Community Impact Initiative

Maria José Anitua Trevijano, CEO, Empty Homes Collaborative

Christopher Watkins, Leader, Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council

Neil Fraser, Partner, Fraser & Fraser

Muhammad Uddin, Business Development Manager, Finders International

Simon Taylor, Founder, Empty Property Hunters

Nick Kalms, Founder, YouSpotProperty

Russell Taylor, Founder, Probate.Auction

Oliver Prior, Director, Auction House

Cllr Paul King, No Use Empty: Kent

Ben Tibbetts, CEO, Land Attic

Jo Widdop, Operations Manager, The Empty Homes Doctor

Ben Radstone, Founder, Hyjan Investments

Aidan Hutchings, Managing Director, Estate Research

Ben Brown, Partner, Taylor Emmett