Action on Empty Homes

30/09/2026

Change at last?
This week Government finally announced that it is reforming the Empty Dwelling Management Order - the only specialist empty homes power councils have (apart from charging extra council tax). We have called for this for many years and discussed it with civil servants and Government advisors when Labour was first elected to Government. Action on Empty Homes welcome the change.
We still need so much more - investment is key and acquisition of homes that could meet local housing needs, for retrofit as social or council housing would be a game changer.
Reform of capital gains tax, to encourage sales into social use in a non-inflationary manner, could also play a role in rebuilding social housing stocks.
But this is we hope the start of change and it was also good to hear empty homes powers mentioned in Andy Burnham's speech yesterday at the Labour Party Conference.
Perhaps finally we have a Government that is listening and acting on what it hears.
Read why the EDMO power announcement is good news here: https://www.actiononemptyhomes.org/news/change-at-last-as-government-reforms-edmo-power

11/09/2026

Around 250 supporters joined the Housing Protest on Sept 9 to hear from 14 different housing campaigns and 6 MP’s speaking in support of rent freezes and investment in council housing as the only long term solution to the housing emergency. Bringing empty homes back into use is part of the solution.
Many contributions echoed the need for building a grassroots housing coalition and to keep on organising.

Image by Dave Gilchrist.

04/09/2026

Meeting point Parliament Square
Fix the housing crisis - Protest

🗓️ Wednesday 9 September, 12noon - 2pm
📍 Parliament Square, London

The protest is a real opportunity to push Burnham on requisition of empty homes and increasing supply of council homes - and bring us together and hear from housing campaigns and supporters.

We need a new generation of social rent council homes that include family-sized and accessible homes, designed to meet climate emergency challenges. And right now, we need rent controls to tackle the cost of living crisis.

https://www.axethehousingact.org.uk/uncategorized/protest-9-september-fix-the-housing-crisis-now/

23/06/2026

Long-term empty homes in London rose 138% in a decade (the national rise was 50%), while 60% of homeless families are Londoners - it's time to use these wasted homes and critically to ask why this is happening and why we keep building the wrong housing to address Londoners' needs:

It comes as about 2.7% of all homes in London are said to be empty - an 81% increase since 2016 when Sir Sadiq Khan became mayor.

11/03/2026

THIS IS WHY EMPTY HOMES WEEK MATTERS>>>
Find out more about National Empty Homes Week and how you can help make an impact on our webpage here: https://www.actiononemptyhomes.org/ehweek
and for local, national and regional data on the scale of the opportunity see our facts and figures page: https://www.actiononemptyhomes.org/facts-and-figures
For Community resources click here: https://www.actiononemptyhomes.org/portfolio-2-2
To support our campaign please use the Facebook donate button or find our more here: https://www.actiononemptyhomes.org/take-action

11/03/2026

Empty homes in England are a million opportunities to improve local lives. Find out more about National Empty Homes Week and how you can help make an impact on our webpage here: https://www.actiononemptyhomes.org/ehweek
and for local, national and regional data on the scale of the opportunity see our facts and figures page: https://www.actiononemptyhomes.org/facts-and-figures
For Community resources click here: https://www.actiononemptyhomes.org/portfolio-2-2
To support our campaign please use the Facebook donate button or find our more here: https://www.actiononemptyhomes.org/take-action

11/03/2026

Kent County Council's No Use Empty scheme shows how recycling empty homes back into use for local people in partnership with local businesses can yield benefits across housing, economic growth and community wellbeing - watch this video showcasing the Gold Standard in action on empty homes for Empty Homes Week 2026: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2041579180049597

11/03/2026

Kent County Council have brought literally thousands of long-term empty homes back into use - No Use Empty is the Gold Standard amongst council programmes but we'd like to see improved powers and investment so that all councils can be as active in the fight against the waste of empty homes..

11/03/2026

Redbridge are taking action on empty homes for 2026
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1628353555164730

11/03/2026

Lewisham launch Empty Homes Strategy for Empty Homes Week:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/763519329887948