Public wants UK’s 1.5m derelict empty homes revived
As of 2023 there were homes worth £532 billion standing empty across England and Wales, with Westminster the worst offender with nearly 36,000 vacant homes.
Nearly half the public is keen to see the transformation of abandoned and derelict homes in their cities, latest analysis from lender Together reveals.
Concerns are mounting over the staggering number of crumbling structures, with 46% fearing the situation will worsen without urgent intervention.
UNSAFE
The research found that two fifths of respondents felt ‘unsafe’ because of the state of abandoned buildings in their cities, while four out of 10 (40%) believe these directly contribute to poor economic growth. A similar number (41%) of those polled even expressed safety concerns over leaving them to fall into further disrepair.
Together’s analysis of Census and Local Authority data also revealed that as of 2023, there was a total of 1.55 million residential homes worth £532 billion that stand empty across England and Wales, with Westminster the worst offender with nearly 36,000 vacant homes.
These homes are technically ‘abandoned’ – with no usual or short-term residents in place, or use as a second home, without any clarity on plans for sale or redevelopment.
This was followed by Cornwall which has just over 28,000 and Birmingham with just under 26,000. Other offenders in the top 10 include Liverpool, Leeds, Camden and Manchester.
CIVIC PRIDE
But Together also found that there was a clear belief that regeneration of residential and commercial buildings can restore civic pride, with 67% agreeing disused sites are a waste of land and redevelopment potential, and almost a third (29%) want them restored to their former glory.
Elliot Vure, Corporate Director at Together, says: “These findings underscore a pressing need for action. Most Britons are calling for the revitalisation of these abandoned buildings, recognising the potential they hold for regenerating communities and economies in cities across the UK.
“While we’re pleased to see that regenerating previously developed land is a central tenet of the Levelling Up agenda, it’s crucial that the Government shows more ambition in supporting the potential redevelopment of abandoned and derelict buildings.
“This will be paramount in addressing the housing crisis, which will be a key feature in the upcoming General Election.”
Well, none of this is exactly surprising. With building materials so expensive, a labour shortage in the construction sector, onerous insulation requirements on period properties, the higher cost of renovations compared to new-build, and the general demonisation of all private developers and landlords, who would be mad enough to take on these renovations? In low-priced parts of the company like inland Cornwall, Liverpool and so on, the cost of renovation is likely to exceed any improvement in sale price.
This “survey” also isn’t comparing like with like. Renovations are only part of the reason for empty homes. Others are empty because people are working abroad and don’t want the risk of their properties being trashed by a tenant, or be left unable to reclaim their own homes because Section 21 has been abolished (and Labour was proposing a minimum 2 year tenancies on newly-rented properties during the RRB debate). Others are left empty by commercial owners looking to redevelop property, as it goes through planning and tendering and possible demolition. Other owners are in jail or in care homes, with no one to manage their estates. Others are tied up in probate disputes. Saying “something must be done” is useless without knowing the circumstances of each property and why it may simply be uneconomic to renovate them,