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Propertymark calls for coordinated action to bring empty properties back into use

Journalist: Tom Dunstan, FTAdviser

ended 31. March 2026

Propertymark has released a position paper highlighting the need for “coordinated, practical and properly resourced action to bring long-term empty properties back into use”.

It explained that over 359,000 homes have been sitting empty for more than six months across the UK, acceleraiing neighbourhood decline, increasing maintainance and security risks, and reducing neighbouring property values.

To address this, the property agents body has called for the government to:

  • Ringfence funding for dedicated Empty Homes Officers
  • Work with communities and the third sector to address the root causes of vacancy
  • Extend the Welsh Empty Homes Grant Scheme to private landlords
  • Introduce targeted regeneration investment in areas with high concentrations of long-term empty homes

What is your opinion on this? Are empty homes a problem for your business or clients? What impact would these reforms have?

1 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Michelle Lawson
Director at Lawson Financial
With 359000 empty homes, that is 359000 families that could be housed in an apparent housing crisis. There should be more focus on properties being kept up to a standard of repair. Giving tax breaks to investors/developers to renovate these properties and bring up the standards of the neighbourhood whilst providing housing is a win-win for all.