Empty dwellings in the United Kingdom: Examining the cause and proposed resolutions.
In the heart of the UK, there is a growing issue that is affecting many communities - the increasing number of empty homes. According to the latest government figures, over 700,000 homes in England stand vacant, a figure that has been on the rise in parallel with rising homelessness and housing shortages.
One common reason a home becomes empty is the death of its owner. The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) have reported that this is a common occurrence. Legal delays and a lack of action by relatives can keep a property empty for years.
The issue is not just a personal one, but also has legal, financial, and investment implications. The Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) allow councils to take over a property that has been empty for two years or more and is causing a nuisance, but they are rarely used due to the lengthy and complex legal process.
Second homes and holiday rentals also reduce the number of available homes for people who live and work in an area. Some landlords buy empty properties at auctions and then do little with them, waiting for the value to increase. Of those, 264,884 are classified as "long-term empty," meaning they have been vacant for six months or more.
Matt Downie, the chief executive of the charity Crisis, believes the government needs to build more homes and invest more in housing benefits to truly solve the problem. The Local Government Association's Housing spokesperson, Cllr Darren Rodwell, states that it is wrong for so many homes to be left empty and that existing measures are falling short.
Since 2024, councils can charge an extra Council Tax premium on properties that have been empty for just one year, but the money is not ring-fenced. This means it can be used for any council purpose, not necessarily for addressing the issue of empty homes.
The campaign manager for Action on Empty Homes, Chris Bailey, has stated that it is a disgrace that the numbers of empty homes are increasing. He argues that it requires a combination of new policies, greater investment, and a shift in how we view property, not just as an asset, but as a home.
The sheer number of vacant properties in the UK points to a national problem that goes beyond a single cause. It is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach to address. The article aims to explore why there are so many empty homes, why they are not being bought, and what is being done to solve the issue. However, it does not discuss the specific solutions being implemented at this time.
