At Grafton Genealogy, we thought it was time for a round-up of the current situation in the U.K. regarding long-term empty homes, and to highlight the work that we do to alleviate the situation.
We are always available for a no obligation chat about how to tackle empty homes in your area, and we can help with tracing owners, engaging with them and then advise on any legal route councils may wish to take. We have decades of experience in the area and are always happy to help.
Empty Homes sector and the work of genealogists has had renewed attention after Radio 4 highlighted the work done by Neil Tonge at Wigan Council.
Neil highlights the important work of genealogists in tracing owners, and that often the issues around long-term empty are probate and family disputes. Working towards finding practical and economical solutions, Neil focuses on working with the families, and then providing repairs and making those homes affordable to buy. It’s always cheaper to repair than build from scratch.
The programme highlights that the rate of long-term empty homes has gone up by 21% since 2011, despite legislation which was introduced that year, to increase council tax on empty homes. This year, there is a new option for councils to apply premiums on second homes and long-term empty properties, introduced under the Levelling-up & Regeneration Bill 2023.
We spoke to Neil Tonge and he stated: ‘Sometimes families think that they can’t resolve complex probate issues or disputes. Often, once we have proposed a solution that’s low cost and deliverable, families can see that’s it’s better the house is sold and inhabited than lying empty.’
Often, our ability to trace the correct owner(s) of an empty property is key to unlocking a solution to a dangerous or dilapidated property on a residential street.
Long-term empty isn’t the same as vacant property.
Whilst the vacancy rate in the U.K. is high, at over 760,000 properties (source), this is the rental market, not the same as long-term empty. In England and Wales there are an estimated 263,000 empty homes so that, taken together there are a staggering 1 million plus empty properties in England and Wales, with Shelter estimating that in England, there were over 317,000 households without stable housing and over 15,000 in Wales.
Burnley Council are also making waves in tackling their long-term empty homes issue.
Like any local council, Burnley will be aware that empty homes attract anti-social and criminal behaviour, such as arson and break-ins.
Their most recent efforts have been to tackle seven long-term empty properties in the area, using compulsory purchase orders. Grafton can advise on tracing owners and also how to engage with them once traced.
