Number of empty homes rises as one council takes action

With National Empty Homes Week taking place this month, research has revealed that one in every 25 homes in England stands empty.

Research by the Empty Homes Network shows the number of empty homes has risen to more than one million, as one lender says mortgage products for landlords could help bring more vacant properties back into use.

The news comes as Brighton and Hove City Council said more than 200 empty private sector homes have been brought back into use since April 2025, following efforts by the council’s Empty Properties and Council Tax teams.

Barriers for landlords

Elliot Vure, sales director at Together, explains that there are barriers for landlords to finance empty properties.

He said: “While the nation often focuses on building new homes, a large and often overlooked percentage of homes in England are already empty.

“However, there is a shortfall in local authority power and resources for identifying the empty homes and taking action on empty home complaints within councils. There are also barriers for prospective buyers, investors and landlords to accessing the right kind of finance once these properties are on the market.

“Traditional mortgage products often aren’t suitable for empty or dilapidated homes, especially where a property is deemed uninhabitable. That’s where specialist lending can play a vital role.

“As an industry, we should be encouraging and supporting borrowers who are willing to take on vacant or neglected homes. That could mean greater flexibility on property conditions at purchase or exploring partnerships with local authorities where empty homes are a particular issue.”

Extra council tax

Brighton and Hove City Council is urging residents to report properties that have become empty or derelict, warning landlords that council tax premiums may apply to vacant homes. The council says properties that have been empty for more than one year, up to five years, are subject to a 100% extra council tax.

Homes empty for more than five years, up to ten years, face a 200% surcharge, while properties left vacant for over ten years are charged 300% extra.

Brighton and Hove City Council has reported that 968 private residential properties in the city have been empty for longer than 12 months and are classified as long-term vacant. This figure does not include second homes or properties going through the probate process.

The council also says that 264 empty homes across the city have been brought back into use.

Councillor Gill Williams, cabinet member for housing and new homes, said: “The steep rise of empty properties across the UK is a troubling phenomenon that’s difficult to understand, especially considering the general housing shortage.

“Transforming 264 abandoned properties into homes for our residents is no easy feat and we’re proud of our hardworking Empty Properties and Council Tax teams for this achievement.

“With the supply of housing in Brighton & Hove limited, we desperately need to make sure all empty properties are brought back into use.”