The Empty Homes Network launches new guidebook to help councils justify resources for tackling empty homes

We are delighted to announce the official launch of our latest guidebook, Empty Homes: Using data to justify increased resources for tackling empty homes, created in collaboration with genealogical and probate experts Fraser & Fraser. The guide was formally unveiled at this year’s national Empty Homes Network Conference, attended by over 150 practitioners, policymakers, and housing professionals from across the UK.

With nearly one million homes classed as unoccupied in England, amounting to 2.56% of the total housing stock, the guide provides councils with practical strategies and evidence-based insights to prioritise and resource empty homes work effectively, even in the face of reduced government incentives and increasing housing need.

Turning Data Into Action

This timely publication explores how local authorities can make a compelling case for investment in empty homes services by focusing on key areas of opportunity:

• Council Tax Arrears: Identifying high-value cases where significant unpaid tax may be recoverable.

• Unoccupied Exemption Classes: Reassessing long-standing exemptions that may no longer be valid.

• Probate and Class F Exemptions: Partnering with experts like Fraser & Fraser to trace beneficiaries, resolve probate, and bring homes back into use.

Through case studies and real-world examples, the guide demonstrates how councils have successfully recovered hundreds of thousands of pounds in lost revenue, funds that can be reinvested in housing services and community regeneration.

Practical Tools and Collaborative Solutions

As Councillor Adam Hug of Westminster City Council writes in the foreword, “Empty homes are more than just bricks and mortar; they represent untapped potential to revitalise neighbourhoods, support local economies, and strengthen social cohesion.” This guide aims to empower councils with the tools, insights, and confidence to turn that potential into action.

Highlights include:

• A procedural flowchart for managing Class F exemption cases

• Guidance on using council tax data for strategic targeting

• Case studies of councils recovering over £50,000 in arrears

• An overview of Fraser & Fraser’s expert support services

A Supportive Call to Action

The guide is more than a policy document, it is a call to action. It encourages councils to examine areas of work that may currently sit on the periphery of their operations and to treat these as opportunities, not afterthoughts. Whether through strategic engagement, debt recovery, or partnerships with probate specialists, the potential to bring empty homes back into use has never been clearer.

We invite all empty homes officers, housing professionals, and local authority leaders to download and read the guide, and to explore how these practical approaches can be adapted to their local context.

To learn more about our training, consultancy, and support services, get in touch at [email protected]

Together, we can unlock the value of empty homes and make a meaningful contribution to solving the housing crisis.