Bringing empty homes back into use - approaches and interventions: evidence scoping review

4. Reasons for empty homes

As previously mentioned, the literature on empty homes acknowledges that short-term vacant properties can be a part of a healthy housing market, for example, occurring as estates are disposed of or as properties wait to be sold or rented. Where short-term vacancies exist, these are likely to be filled quickly, particularly in areas where housing demand is high (Davies 2014). Whilst efforts to bring empty homes back into use are an important part of housing policy, empty homes are a part of a well-functioning housing market: for there not to be a shortage of homes, there must logically be a surplus at any given time to ensure availability of properties to those seeking accommodation. More available properties can mitigate the consequences of a pressured housing market which skews against first time buyers and renters by driving up prices (Breach 2021). However, when properties are left empty over the long term, this can have wider social and economic implications for the community. Causes of empty homes explored in this literature include de-population and demographic change, socio-economic decline and lack of knowledge and finances for repairs (Brouard-Sala et al 2018; Ceranic et al 2017; Feantsa 2019; Huuhka 2015; Housing Agency Ireland 2016; Manda 2015; Seirin-Lee et al 2019). In other cases, properties are long-term empty due to personal reasons such as emotional attachment to the property, inheritance and probate processes, bankruptcy, imprisonment, mental incapacity or long-term hospitalisation (National Assembly for Wales 2019; Davies 2014; Tanner 2013; Greenland and Coupland 2014).

Studies found that properties often remained empty because the property had fallen into disrepair and the owner was unable to cover the cost to make it habitable or bring it up to a suitable enough condition to sell (Scottish Government 2019; National Assembly for Wales 2019). Where new owners may not live locally, or may lack the resources, time or motivation to deal with a property, properties acquired through inheritance could sometimes become an issue for the new owner and lie empty for long periods of time (National Assembly for Wales 2019). Moreover, in areas where demand for housing is low, owners may be unwilling to sell their property at market value or be unable to sell at all thus preventing the property from being brought back into use (National Assembly for Wales 2019). Respondents to a consultation detailed in a report for the National Assembly for Wales also noted that properties could become long-term empty in cases where the property was located above commercial premises and the commercial property was not let. Additionally, where the LA is involved, uncooperative owners may be reluctant to engage or difficult to trace (National Assembly for Wales 2019).