Key Points
- Staggering Surge: The number of empty properties in London has reached 105,138, representing an 81% increase since 2016.
- Proportional Shock: Vacant homes now account for 2.7% of London’s total housing stock, equating to roughly 1 in every 37 properties.
- Council Ownership: Approximately 2% of these vacant properties are owned by local councils—the highest proportion of any region in the United Kingdom.
- Call for Direct Action: Campaigners are demanding that the Mayor of London directly intervene to assist boroughs in filling empty homes, arguing that reliance on local councils is no longer sufficient.
- The “New-Build” Paradox: Experts highlight a bizarre trend where freshly constructed luxury developments sit empty because they are priced entirely out of reach for regular Londoners.
- City Hall Response: While declining to comment directly on specific criticisms, City Hall has stated an aim to refurbish up to 500 empty homes as part of a wider mayoral strategy to combat rough sleeping.
London (The Londoner News) June 23, 2026 – The Mayor of London is facing intense pressure to directly intervene in the capital’s escalating housing crisis as new figures reveal that more than 105,000 homes are currently lying empty across the city. The London Assembly has been formally urged by housing experts and campaign groups to address the issue immediately, following a staggering 81% surge in vacant properties over the last decade. Despite guidelines in the London Plan instructing local councils to make efficient use of their existing stock, campaigners argue that the sheer scale of the problem requires centralized mayoral action to bring these dormant properties back into use for everyday citizens.
Data compiled by London Assembly researchers outlines that the total volume of unused accommodation now accounts for 2.7% of the total housing supply within the capital. This translates to approximately one in every 37 homes sitting entirely vacant. While the executive team at City Hall has declined to issue a direct rebuttal to the criticisms, officials have pointed toward ongoing strategies aimed at refurbishing up to 500 empty homes to alleviate rough sleeping. However, independent analysts and charity representatives argue that this response is vastly inadequate compared to the hundreds of thousands of individuals currently squeezed by skyrocketing rents and an acute shortage of affordable accommodation.
Why Is London Facing a Surge in Vacant Properties?
The underlying structural issues causing this vacancy spike point to both a shift in governance and macroeconomic trends. According to comprehensive government data analyzed by London Assembly researchers, the number of empty properties in the capital has risen from 58,096 in the year Sir Sadiq Khan took office in 2016, to 105,138 in 2025. This near-doubling of numbers indicates that existing regulatory levers and local authority penalties, such as council tax premiums on long-term empty properties, are failing to deter owners from leaving units unoccupied.
Furthermore, the data exposes a troubling trend regarding publicly managed stock. Approximately 2% of these empty homes are owned by local councils themselves, which stands as a higher proportion than any other UK region. The number of council-owned homes left empty has risen by 66% since 2016, drawing sharp criticism from observers who argue that public bodies should be leading by example during an unprecedented housing shortage.
What Are Experts Saying About the Empty Homes Crisis?
During a highly anticipated London Assembly housing committee meeting, prominent figures from across the housing sector testified about the human and economic costs of leaving properties derelict. As reported by the BBC, Sam Bloomer, a policy officer at the housing charity Shelter, stated that filling properties such as these was a “cost-effective, green and fast” way to boost the affordable homes supply in the capital.
How Long Does It Take to Reclaim a Vacant Home?
Highlighting the efficiency of retrofitting over ground-up development, Sam Bloomer of Shelter further noted to the committee,
“You can retrofit and convert an empty home in eight months.”
This timeline stands in stark contrast to traditional construction projects, which routinely take several years from planning permission to final completion, all while consuming far greater environmental resources.
Why Are New-Build Homes Sitting Empty in London?
One of the most contentious points raised during the assembly meeting was the disconnect between what developers are building and what Londoners actually need. Several panellists observed that a large number of empty homes had never been lived in at all, having been constructed by private developers and immediately priced at figures that the vast majority of local residents could never hope to afford.
As reported by the BBC, Chris Bailey, the director of policy and campaigns at the non-profit organization Action on Empty Homes, stated:
“We’re in the bizarre situation in London that there are empty new-build homes – we are building homes that are too expensive, but the demand is for affordable housing.”
While acknowledging that bringing these properties back into rotation would not completely solve the broader systemic issues, Chris Bailey of Action on Empty Homes added,
“Empty homes are not a silver bullet, but they are one lever we can pull.”
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How Does Reclaiming Empty Homes Compare to Building Social Housing?
To illustrate the true impact of targeted intervention, independent consultants have urged the government to look at contemporary delivery metrics rather than abstract long-term goals. As reported by the BBC, Tara Clinton, an associate at global consultants Arup, stated that bringing five per cent of empty homes back into use would be equivalent to the current construction rate for social housing.
Reframing how the public and policymakers view the data, Tara Clinton of Arup explained: “The opportunity is often compared to the overall target. While that is valid, it’s important to compare it against current rates of delivery.”
What Is the Mayor of London Doing to Solve the Problem?
Under the current iteration of the London Plan, individual borough councils bear the primary responsibility for ensuring the “efficient use of existing housing stock.” However, the dramatic upward trajectory of vacancy rates since 2016 suggests that local authorities lack the funding, legal powers, or administrative capacity to handle the crisis independently. This has led to the unified call from campaigners for Sir Sadiq Khan to step in with direct, centralized funding and policy mandates.
When pushed for a definitive response regarding these demands, City Hall representatives declined to comment specifically on the criticisms or the call for direct intervention. Instead, a spokesperson pointed to the administration’s broader, ongoing initiatives, stating that the government aimed to refurbish up to 500 empty homes as part of the mayor’s wider strategy to end rough sleeping.
While housing advocates welcome any effort to support the city’s most vulnerable populations, the consensus among assembly panellists remains clear: refurbishing 500 homes scratches only the surface of a 105,000-property deficit, and without systemic reform, London’s housing crisis will continue to deepen.
