Blogs

The Empty Homes Day of Action on Saturday 17 April is being supported by a growing coalition of organisations who want to raise public awareness about the half a million long-term empty homes and homes without a permanent resident in England. Meanwhile there are 100,000 families living in Temporary Accommodation during a public health crisis.

SHAC, Street Storage, Streets Kitchen, People Before Profit, Defend Council Housing are joining with Action on Empty Homes and Homes4All in supporting the day of action.

Action on Empty Homes calls for Government action on escalating numbers of long-term empty homes across the country.

11.11.2020 

For Immediate media release 

Government data released today shows a massive year on year rise of over 42,000 to a total of 268,385 long-term empty homes in England, as nearly 100,000 families languish in temporary accommodation. This is the biggest rise since current records began. 

In this edition of Action on Empty Homes News we look at how growing awareness of empty homes underlines wider issues in housing

Changing patterns of work – tell us your stories:

We hope that this newsletter finds you well. If you have stories to share on how the Coronavirus pandemic is impacting your work on empty homes, we would love to publish your thoughts as a blog on our website

Action on Empty Homes is looking to recruit three new board members from Black and Asian communities

Get involved in Action on Empty Home’s campaign to ensure England’s 226,000 empty homes are used for people in housing need.  Become a Board Member!

Never been a charity trustee before? We will show you the ropes. We will offer ongoing support, training and mentoring and actively work to develop a culture that nurtures and welcomes diversity.

September/October 2020

I’ve been finding different ways to motivate myself (and my empty home owners) as I finally have time to concentrate on my empty homes work.

Don't know about you, but my empty home complainants seem oblivious to the fact that 'normal service' isn't an on thing right now. I reckon some of them haven't clocked that Hitler invaded Poland or that England split with Rome. 

So, I can't do business properly workign at home. I'm usless. So I redeployed. Here's a little taste of what I do now.

“Redeployment with Bereavement Services. A Learning Opportunity.

Lambeth are to use 45 empty properties on regeneration estates to house homeless households for a period of up to two years.

Following the outbreak of Covid 19, the council is struggling to find self-contained accommodation for homeless households and is having to book hotel rooms to accommodate people. Housing them in empty council properties is seen as a cheaper option.

The council announced at the start of the outbreak of Covid 19 that it would suspend evictions.

You can read the full story here: 

Media Release  28^th April 2020; Embargo: 12 Noon

The empty promises at the heart of housing policy: 

New report reveals why the next 500 high rise towers won’t end London’s housing crisis and the Government action needed 

‘Pretty Vacant’, a new report launched today by Action on Empty Homes, shines a light on how property investors are reducing Londoners access to housing. 

The report reveals:

TV production company Ricochet Productions is looking for empty homes for a new TV series it is developing, aimed at teaching families new skills so they can furnish and fit out a property they then go on to live in.  So the company would love to hear from empty home officers or housing organisations with access to properties that might work for the series.