We are the only national campaigning organisation with a sole focus on taking action on empty homes
Since 2000 we have played a significant role in campaigning to create a combination of local action and national action to tackle the waste empty homes. These ideas have been adopted as national policy and also local practice. Our track record of campaigning puts us in a good position to influence decision-makers and to do more to tackle the waste of empty homes in England.
our influence:
Removing automatic Council Tax discounts on empty properties (from 2013)
Councils being able to charge more Council Tax on empty homes (from 2013)
Government funding of National Empty Homes Programme (2012-2015)
The New Homes Bonus being applied to long-term empty properties returned to use (2010)
The reduction of the rate of VAT charged on empty homes renovation work (from 2007)
The creation of Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO) powers for councils to tackle long-term empty homes (from 2004)
‘Un-let’ second homes or ‘furnished empties’ getting charged double Council Tax – currently being introduced in the Levelling Up and Regeneration (LURB) Bill [2023/4]
Empty Homes Premium chargeable at one year not two [2023/4] (also in the LURB Bill)
New Planning Use Class for Short Lets (Consultation 2023) [2024]
Registration Scheme to acquire the first official national data on Airbnbs and Short Lets (Consultations 2022 and 2023) [2024]
Our Partners and Collaborators
There are many organisations and people working tirelessly to create a better housing system for everyone. Empty Homes play a part in helping to resolve this country’s housing crisis. So Action on Empty Homes does not work in a vacuum. Over the years we have formed partnerships and coalitions with the following organisations:
Crisis - we worked with Crisis in 2023 on their report, Make History: Ending homelessness with homes - Unlocking the potential of England’s empty buildings
Shelter - we worked with Shelter in 2024 on their report, Home Again: A 10-City Plan to rapidly convert empty homes into social rent homes
As part of our Campaign Against Empty Homes we joined our voices with:
■ The Big Issue
■ Defend Council Housing
■ Disabled People Against Cuts
■ Fuel Poverty Action
■ Greater Manchester Housing Action
■ Homes for All
■ Labour Homelessness Campaign
■ People Before Profit
■ Radical Housing Network
■ Renters’ Rights London
■ Social Housing Action Campaign
■ Streets Kitchen
■ Street Storage
■ Unite Union London and South East and
London Region
■ Unite Community London and Eastern
Region
■ Yes to Fair Redevelopment