With only seven weeks to go, The Empty Homes Network are excited to announce our Exhibitor+ Sponsors for this year's National Conference, being held on Wednesday 20th May in Birmingham.
Extending their support of the Conference and of the Network, all of our Exhibitor+ Sponsors return and rejoin us for 2026. Colleagues and partners from Grafton Empty Homes, NPLaw, Finders International, Probate.Auction, YouSpotProperty, No Use Empty: Kent and Estate Research will all be on hand throughout the day to answer any questions you have, and demonstrate how they and their teams can support you in your day to day roles.
The Empty Homes Network is extremely proud to have partnered with these seven fantastic organisations again for this year’s Conference in our 25th anniversary year. We would strongly recommend exploring how they can help your empty homes service, and support the work you do in offering options to owners in your respective areas.
The Empty Homes Network would like to thank them for their continued support, and look forward to working with all of our sponsors and supporters throughout 2026 and beyond!
Grafton Empty Homes
At Grafton Empty Homes, we provide specialist empty homes services. From securing a property, to tracing missing beneficiaries, we are with you every step of the way. Instead of following old methods of dealing with empty property, we will tailor our service to your preference. We can create conversations and find solutions, where previous attempts have failed.
At Grafton, we believe in looking after everyone that is part of the chain. From your housing officer to your hard-to-trace owner, we will treat everyone with the same care and respect. With great customer service and an ethical approach, everyone’s experience is transformed. We will ensure that you are dealt with transparently every step of the way, enabling you to make the right decisions for your community and all of those involved. We understand how complex and challenging empty homes are; we will always look for the solution that helps you unlock your hardest cases. We are part of the Grafton Family of Companies, which encompasses Empty Home services and solutions, asset tracing, missing beneficiaries research, genealogy and more. Our clients include several local councils, public sector organisations and private individuals. Contact us today on 020 8875 1230 for a no obligations conversation with one of our experts.
np law
nplaw is a public sector shared legal service with a wealth of experience gained through many years of advising our clients in local government, the public sector and charities. Our public service ethos sets us apart from private legal practices but we are run and approach our work in the same commercial manner, working hard to offer excellent value for money whilst at the same time delivering a high quality, efficient legal service. Our lawyers are themselves council employees and understand the context in which you operate: particularly council decision-making processes, the vulnerabilities of the people you work with and the importance of communities.
We know that empty properties can have a serious impact on local communities and we can support you in choosing the best legal option to deal with the problem whether that is by way of compulsory purchase or an enforced sale.
If you would like to talk to us about legal solutions for empty homes, please contact our dedicated inbox at [email protected].
We offer competitive hourly rates and clear cost estimates to help you plan your budget with confidence. For more information, please visit our website at About nplaw - Norfolk County Council
Finders International
Finders International are award-winning probate genealogists. We trace missing heirs to property estates, funds and assets worldwide and offer this service FREE of charge to Empty Homes Officers. We have experience in swiftly locating and engaging with owners of vacant or derelict property and can assist in resolving disputes. Whether the owner is living or deceased, we aim to provide prompt solutions every time. A full list and further details of our public-sector services can be found here.
We offer free online training sessions delivered by experts in the field, through our Development Hub. Sign up today to stay informed about our upcoming webinars and in-person Empty Homes events.
If you would like to get in touch with any further questions, please contact us on Freephone 0800 085 8796, email [email protected] or visit our website www.findersinternational.com.
Probate.Auction
The founders of Probate.Auction and Resi.Auction have been at the forefront of the UK property auction market collectively for over 60 years, having been involved in running some of the largest property auctioneers in the country while also operating successful property-related businesses.
Probate.Auction is the UK’s largest auctioneer dedicated solely to the sale of probate properties, with Resi.Auction focused on selling non-probate properties. Our team has developed a deep understanding of the auction process and is transforming how estates and vendors achieve fast, efficient sales while securing top market prices and providing a seamless journey for our clients.
Recognising a real need in the probate sector and the wider property market, we created a bespoke service tailored to the needs of executors, beneficiaries, professional advisors and vendors.
Our streamlined auction process avoids the lengthy delays and uncertainties of traditional estate agent sales, achieving results in as little as nine weeks from instruction to completion. Our clients benefit from full transparency, with all legal documents openly available, ensuring the integrity of every transaction and maximising the value of the property. Properties requiring modernisation or with complexities such as structural issues or short leases often achieve better prices at auction than through conventional sales methods.
If you’d like to speak with us about a potential probate auction property, please do give us a call on 020 7381 1345 or drop us an email at [email protected]
YouSpotProperty
YouSpotProperty.com, established in 2013 by Nicholas Kalms and Benjamin Radstone, is dedicated to revitalising vacant and neglected properties across the UK. With over four decades of combined experience in the property sector, Nick and Ben have developed a unique platform that enables the public to play an active role in identifying and bringing empty homes back into use.
The company’s approach allows individuals to report derelict or long-term empty properties via the YouSpotProperty.com website. Once verified, spotters receive a £20 voucher as a thank you for their contribution. If a reported property is successfully purchased and returned to use, the spotter is rewarded with 1% of the property’s purchase price. Since launch, and reaching a major milestone last year, YouSpotProperty.com has paid out over £1 million to spotters, reflecting both the scale of engagement and the effectiveness of the model.
Many properties become vacant for practical and often sensitive reasons, including probate, relocation, or owners moving into long-term care. YouSpotProperty.com specialises in identifying ownership, managing complexity, and facilitating sales that allow these homes to be renovated and reintroduced to the housing market. This work helps improve neighbourhoods and reduces the issues commonly associated with prolonged vacancy.
Beyond property restoration, YouSpotProperty.com is committed to community benefit. For every property returned to use, the company makes a donation to a local charity, reinforcing its people-first approach. Through this collaborative model, YouSpotProperty.com continues to contribute to the national conversation around empty homes and housing supply, and is pleased to take part as a contributor at the 2026 Empty Homes Network Conference.
No Use Empty: Kent
Delivered in partnership with all 12 district councils No Use Empty (NUE) remains committed to reducing the numbers of long-term empty properties, returning an average of 480 per year back into use. Planning, dedicated resources, monitoring outcomes, adjusting delivery models to reflect current market conditions, and above all continuity are the ingredients to their success.
The NUE initiative introduced by Kent County Council in 2005 provides a best practice example of how successful a national loan fund could be. Starting with an initial £5m investment, the scheme has administered more than £67m in recyclable loans which have helped return 9,008 empty properties back into use via a variety of interventions. This includes short term secured interest free loans for first-time users. Once repaid the loans are recycled to fund new projects. For those who seek further loans, NUE offer interest bearing loans, which helps make NUE cost neutral.
In addition to this and continued demand from local developers NUE also provides short-term finance to bring derelict sites (with planning) forward to create new build homes. NUE have adminsitered an extra £54m in recylable loans to fund 326 new build homes of which 245 have been sold and occupied. When you add in the private sector funds NUE attracts the overall investment is appraoching £200m. Some of our projects on completion are acquired by our districts to meet their housing needs. We have also delivered empty shops with residentail above back into use. All of which further supports the Kent economy as well as allowing us to regenerate local communities. Stratgeic Programme Manager, Steve Grimshaw said: ”I cannot believe NUE is 20 years strong. We are very proud to be sponsoring the annual Empty Homes Conference for a 12th consecutive year”.
Estate Research
Estate Research are a firm of genealogists established in 2001, who have built a reputation assisting the public sector. With offices based in Wigan and London, employing over 80 members of staff, the company has evolved significantly over the years, meaning they provide a range of services. In recognition to the ongoing issues faced by local authorities dealing with long term empty properties, Estate Research are continuously developing their Empty Property Solutions services. Their specialist tracing skills can assist with identifying and tracing missing property owners, as well as assisting with properties whereby the property owner has passed away. The website offers a range of information on enforcement and advice on how to deal with delays once probate has been granted; www.estateresearchemptyproperties.co.uk.
Their reputation has been built on high levels of professionalism and a robust policy of complete transparency alongside offering simple solutions to help bring empty properties back into public use. The vast majority of these services are completely free to local authorities and guaranteed by a commitment to achieving a resolution beneficial to all parties involved. For more information contact [email protected].
The full line up of speakers, sessions and their content can be viewed on our dedicated Conference page here.
We are also delighted to again offer our 1-2-1 surgery sessions on your CPO, Enforced Sale and succession and dispute cases on the day, where you will be able to discuss your case specifics with legal experts in conjunction with our partners at NPLaw, Bevan Brittan LLP and Taylor Emmet.
Delegate Rates
With delegate prices starting from £95 for not-for-profit and charitable organisations, our Corporate Delegate Rate (£150) includes refreshments, a two-course hot buffet lunch, and the opportunity to network with like-minded colleagues working in the field of empty homes. Our Corporate Members also benefit from our discounted delegate rate (£105) for any additional delegate places booked.
As a subscriber member of the Empty Homes Network, it has never been easier to upgrade your membership level and take advantage of our fantastic delegate rates, as well as increasing your access to all of our information resources online.
Booking Form
Our booking form can be found on our dedicated Conference webpage here, and bookings are now being taken. All you need to do to secure your place at the event, is complete the booking form with all of the required information, and send to [email protected]
