Following the release of the Council Taxbase 2022 statistics, The Empty Homes Network has taken a closer look at the comparison in figures from last year, in which has seen the numbers of empty homes across many of the criteria, rise over the past 12 months.
Total Empty Homes
Providing a snapshot in time of the current empty homes position across the Country, the Council Taxbase 2022 reports that the Total Number of Empty Homes across England has risen to 479,076, an increase of 11,006 from the same point last year. Meaning a national percentage of total empty homes of 1.90%, this has seen an increase in figures of around 2.35% on 2021’s statistics.
However, some councils have reported significant reductions in their total number of empty homes, with over a third of local authorities in England reporting either no change, or a % reduction in the number of total empty homes in their areas.
Long Term Empty Homes
Similarly, the number of Long-Term Empty Homes has also risen nationally, increasing 9,700 to a national total of 257,331. Representing an increase of 3.92%, the national percentage of long-term empty homes is now at 1.02%, when set against the total number of dwellings across England.
Again however, 121 local authorities across the country have reported a 0% change or a percentage reduction in their long-term empty homes, with the figures reporting that 39.15% of councils have shown a decrease in numbers.
The Empty Homes Premium
Now reported that 72,341 properties across the country are liable for the empty homes premium, this number has increased slightly by 711 since those reported in 2021. Representing a 0.99% increase, this means that 0.29% of the Country’s residential housing stock is now liable for the Empty Homes Premium.
Significantly though, 55.98% of local authorities have reported the same figure or a reduction in their liable properties over the past 12 months. 173 local authorities have posted a 0% change or a reduction, in their annual figures.
Second Homes
Whilst much has been made of second home ownership, in particular in coastal areas and in Wales in recent years, the number of Second Homes has risen across England by 3,566 since 2021. Now totalling 256,913, this figure represents a 1.4% increase in statistics from the previous year, and a national percentage of 1.02% of the Country’s housing stock now classed as a second home.
Although fewer councils are reporting reductions when compared to those doing so with the Empty Homes Premium, there are still 143 Councils reporting the same figure or a reduction, meaning 46.27% of authorities have seen numbers fall.
Unoccupied Exemptions
When considering those properties that fall within an exemption class, but aren’t necessarily considered within the ‘Empty Homes’ statistics, these properties account for 207,150 of the total housing stock across England, meaning 0.82% are currently unoccupied but with an appropriate exemption in place.
Increasing by 12,878 since 2021, this represents a 6.63% change.
Only 18.10% of local authorities have seen reductions in these figures, leading to the assumption that liable parties may be more conscious of the discounts or exemptions that they would qualify for, once the property or person’s circumstances change.
The statistical breakdown, as compiled by the Empty Homes Network can be found in our information library, comprising of 5 tables, one for each of the sections above.
For local authority level data reported in the Council Taxbase for 2022, click here
For annually reported local authority level data going back to 2010, click here