Why the National Empty Homes Strategy is a call to action for property owners
As National Empty Homes Week comes to an end, the conversation around UK housing is intensifying, and the campaign to revitalise the UK’s housing stock has gained unprecedented momentum. In a powerful open letter to Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, a coalition of 25 sector leaders including Resonance, the Empty Homes Network, Shelter, Women’s Aid, and The Big Issue has urged the government to establish a national strategy for bringing empty properties back into use.
The growing crisis
The statistics are a stark reminder of why immediate action is needed:
- The empty stock: While the government plans to build 1.5 million new homes – a goal that, while ambitious, will take years to impact supply – over 1 million existing homes in England stand empty (~4% of all housing stock).¹
- The worsening trend: the number of properties that have been empty for six months or more (termed ‘long-term empty’) reached 309,856 in 2025, representing a 14% jump in a single year and a staggering 26% increase since 2021.¹
- Rising demand: More than 1.3 million households in England are currently stuck on waitlists for social housing, a 10% rise in just two years, and over 300,000 of these are in London alone.²
What the National Strategy proposes (and what it means for property owners)
The letter outlines an approach which would create greater penalties for owners of empty properties and stricter enforcement – encouraging owners to act fast. For owners, this marks a shift toward much stricter oversight:
- Mandatory investigations: A fully funded local authority duty to investigate “dormant” buildings.
- Enforcement powers: New, specific powers for councils to intervene when a property is left vacant.
- Tax pressure: “Ringfencing” Council Tax Premiums to ensure that money goes directly into local housing budgets.
How property guardianship is helping already
The presence of property guardians helps to secure buildings and regenerate local communities.
How property guardianship is helping already
While a national strategy takes time to legislate, property guardianship is already putting dormant resources to use. Here is how our model aligns with the coalition’s vision while protecting property owners:
- Immediate impact vs. the construction lag: Building new housing takes years. We can transform an empty building into a safe, managed home in weeks. Housing people in empty buildings reduces the ‘squeeze’ on the private rental market, directly easing the wider housing crisis.
- Mitigating tax liabilities: Our model turns a potential tax penalty into a win. Occupation can eliminate the large Council Tax premiums, often moving the property from expensive empty property rates to lower residential brackets. And, property owners won’t need to pay the council tax as Dot Dot Dot guardians take on those costs.
- Community regeneration: Empty homes can attract anti-social behaviour (ASB). Guardians help to secure properties by reporting ASB and keep the neighbourhood vibrant while owners prepare for future renovation or demolition. Additionally, at Dot Dot Dot Property, each of our guardians commits to volunteer for 12 hours a month, giving back to the community.
The future of empty homes
The coalition’s message to Matthew Pennycook is clear: “Together, we can turn empty buildings into homes.” At Dot Dot Dot Property, we aren’t waiting for the legislation to catch up. We are already helping owners navigate these rising pressures by turning vacant buildings into socially responsible, cost-effective housing solutions.
If you have a building due for renovation or demolition, get in touch to discover more about guardianship and how it can protect your asset and support the national housing effort.
¹ Council Taxbase 2025: England’s Empty Homes Statistics, Empty Homes Network, [online] available here (last accessed: 10/03/26)
² ‘Each empty home shows there is a problem’ – housing leaders call for action, BBC News, [online] available here (last accessed: 10/03/26)
