An investigation by Sky News has revealed that over 6,000 publicly-owned homes in England have been vacant for more than a year, despite 145,800 children currently living in temporary accommodation.
Amid a severe national housing crisis, tens of thousands of council houses remain unoccupied.
'Complete mismanagement': Families left homeless despite England's 33,000 empty council homes
— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 7, 2024
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Data shows that there are 33,993 empty council properties in England, the highest figure since 2009. Sky News uncovered that more than 6,000 of these homes have been unoccupied for over a year.
Among these are homes on an estate in Lambeth, south London, which have been sealed off for more than two decades, and 144 flats in a boarded-up tower block in Southwark, vacant since 2015. Initially set for redevelopment, escalating costs now mean the tower is slated for demolition.
Sky News collaborated with housing campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa to obtain the figures through Freedom of Information requests.
Mr. Tweneboa expressed his frustration, telling Sky News: "You've got people sleeping on the streets. You've got people who are sleeping in garages and storage containers. Yet we've got thousands of homes sat empty, council homes up and down the country, which aren't being used. It makes no sense whatsoever."
According to Kwajo Tweneboa, Britain is experiencing the worst housing crisis since World War II. Over a million people are in desperate need of council houses, and the number of homeless children in England could fill the O2 Arena more than seven times over, totaling 145,000 children.
Local authorities across England are holding thousands of vacant homes while the public housing waiting lists continue to expand. These 33,000 empty homes could provide accommodation for rough sleepers or serve as long-term social housing.
During a period when many councils are on the brink of bankruptcy and spending billions on privately-owned temporary accommodations, the issue of vacant council properties is perplexing. The primary cause appears to be severe mismanagement by housing departments and insufficient oversight from Westminster.
Many of these homes have been vacant for over a year, resulting in no rental revenue and denying housing to those in dire need. This situation, Mr. Tweneboa argues, represents a significant failure by both councils and the government to address the housing crisis effectively.
Rather than repairing their own properties, councils are spending millions annually to house families in private emergency accommodations, such as bed and breakfasts. Current statistics indicate that 145,800 children in England are homeless and residing in temporary accommodation—a record high, marking a 15% increase from the previous year.
Rose, a 21-year-old mother of two, lives in a single room in a bed and breakfast in Streatham, Lambeth. Juggling part-time work and studies to become an air controller, Rose finds private rents in South London unaffordable. She constantly worries about the impact of their living situation on her daughters, aged five and two.
"My firstborn still wears nappies because in the middle of the night she can't just get up and go to a shared toilet with all these people that she doesn't know," she explains. "My baby - it took her time to walk because she didn't have enough room and she couldn't use the baby walker."
Rose's regular inquiries to Croydon Council about permanent housing often lead to disheartening responses. Recently, a council worker told her, "you will have to move out of London and find a house. We have no social houses."
Sky News showed Rose several empty houses just a short drive from her current residence. The houses are on a Lambeth estate slated for redevelopment years ago, yet no construction work has started. This revelation left Rose feeling "heartbroken, lied to and deceived."
The Local Government Association (LGA) attributes the number of vacant properties to funding shortages. Victor Chamberlain, a housing spokesperson for the LGA, explained that councils lack the funds to refurbish and reoccupy these homes, instead channeling money to private landlords for temporary accommodation due to their obligation to prevent rough sleeping.
Mr. Chamberlain criticized the current system, stating, "If we're not able to spend the money on the actual solution, but we're using a sticking plaster of temporary accommodation, then the system is broken."
Lambeth Council assured Sky News of their commitment to returning empty homes to use quickly, noting that most of their vacant properties have been empty for less than six months.
Croydon Council responded to inquiries about Rose's situation, stating they are working to find her a permanent home soon. They acknowledged the impact of increased homelessness and a London-wide housing shortage on their ability to provide timely permanent housing for families.
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