100,000 Families in Temporary Accommodation as 1M Homes Stand Empty
Councils in England have placed 100,000 families in temporary accommodation due to severe housing shortages, costing taxpayers £1.2bn annually. Shockingly, over one million homes stand empty while 250,000 people struggle to find a place to live. The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill aims to tackle this issue by granting councils the power to impose a council tax premium on homes empty for over a year.
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that 250,000 properties have been empty for more than six months. To address this, a national programme is urgently needed, similar to those already in place in Wales and Scotland. A nationally funded Empty Homes Programme could provide the right mix of measures to tackle the issue effectively. Currently, local authorities lack the necessary powers to deal with empty homes, often waiting for their value to increase before taking action.
One barrier to resolving the issue is the requirement to prove vandalism, antisocial behaviour, or dangerous dereliction before intervention. Removing this need could significantly speed up the process. Additionally, over 207,000 empty homes are currently exempt from council tax, and over 70,000 permanent short-term lets are paying business rates, further highlighting the complexity of the situation.
The government must act swiftly to implement a national programme to address the housing crisis and tackle the issue of empty homes. This could involve supporting local authorities with additional powers and funding, as well as simplifying the process for dealing with empty properties. By doing so, they can help reduce the number of families in temporary accommodation and ensure that everyone has access to safe, affordable housing.
