A lack of funding, strategy and dedicated staff is hampering efforts to bring empty homes back into use, according to new research from Propertymark.
Freedom of Information responses from 226 local authorities across England, Scotland and Wales reveal significant gaps in local capacity to tackle long-term vacant properties.
Just 38% of councils currently have an empty homes strategy in place, while only 41% employ at least one dedicated empty homes officer. Even fewer – 25% – operate with a ringfenced budget for this work.
The findings come as more than 359,000 homes across the UK have been sitting empty for over six months, highlighting the scale of underused housing stock during a period of sustained supply pressure.
CATALYST FOR CHANGE
Propertymark warns that without properly resourced local teams and clear strategic direction, efforts to bring these properties back into use will remain limited.
The report also points to wider challenges, including the reliance on financial penalties such as council tax premiums, which it argues can act as a blunt tool rather than a catalyst for change.
Instead, the body highlights examples of best practice, where targeted local support, dedicated officers and collaborative approaches have successfully reduced vacancy rates.
LACK OF RESOURCES
Timothy Douglas (main picture, inset), Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, says: “Long-term empty properties are a visible reminder of a system that is not working as effectively as it should. At a time when housing demand continues to outstrip supply, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes unused is neither economically nor socially sustainable.
“Our research shows that while governments across the UK have introduced a range of measures, too many local authorities lack the dedicated resources, funding and strategic framework needed to deliver meaningful change.”
DELIVERABLE REFORMS
And he adds: “Financial penalties alone will not solve the problem. What works is sustained local engagement, professional advice, and properly funded empty homes teams that can support owners through the process of bringing properties back into use.
“This paper sets out practical, deliverable reforms that would help unlock this wasted stock, revitalise high streets and neighbourhoods, and provide much-needed homes for communities across the country.”
