How many houses in London are empty?

According to our analysis of data from all 33 local government authorities, 87,763 houses stood empty across London in 2023. The total value of these properties is worth an estimated £50 billion, with a quarter of the city's empty homes concentrated in these five boroughs.

What percentage of houses in London are empty?

What are empty homes and how many are there? According to the latest Census, 7.8 per cent of London's housing stock was vacant in March 2021.

Why are so many UK houses empty?

The vast majority of empty homes are unoccupied due to financial concerns. A common reason that properties are empty is because the owner cannot raise funds to refurbish the property up to let it out, or sell. Further, if property is jointly inherited, it can take years for beneficiaries to decide what to do with it.

Is there a housing shortage in London?

Driven by the worsening shortage of affordable housing, far too many Londoners are struggling with their housing costs and at risk of becoming homeless.

How many empty houses in the UK in 2025?

England Empty Homes Statistics Summary 2025

Across England, there are currently 272,257 long-term empty homes out of a total 25,675,421 dwellings, representing a 1.06% vacancy rate nationwide.

Explained: Why London is full of empty homes

Why are houses not selling in 2025?

Settings. Stamp duty changes: it's going to get more expensive to purchase a property from 1st April 2025 due to stamp duty changes. Buyers who have budgeted using the old rates may defer a property purchase to save up the shortfall or abandon moving plans altogether.

How long will UK houses last?

On average, the generally expected and acceptable lifespan of a home should last at least 60 years. However, many believe that the lifespan of a home is much longer than that reaching well over 100 years.

Is London housing a bubble?

No, the London property market is not doomed, nor will this supposed bubble burst. For starters, prediction of a property bubble is almost impossible. Almost every economic bubble has only been labelled a bubble after prices have fallen.

Where is the biggest housing shortage in the UK?

Where has the worst housing shortages? Cities with the biggest housing shortages are primarily concentrated in the Greater South East of England such as London and Brighton. But some other prosperous cities like Edinburgh, Bristol, and York that have lots of high-paying jobs are also affected.

Is it difficult to find housing in London?

The high demand and steep prices in the housing market can make apartment hunting in a major city like London quite challenging.

Do we really need more houses in the UK?

All types of areas across England need new homes, to help local people stay in the areas where they want to live, as well as provide for people moving to an area. Urban areas are under the greatest pressure for new homes as they are where a large number of jobs and services are located.

Why are houses not selling in the UK?

2Why are houses not selling at the moment? Right now, higher interest rates, economic uncertainty, and cautious buyers mean properties are sitting on the market longer even homes that would usually sell fast.

Why are houses in the UK so cold?

Many homes, especially those built before the 1970s, lack modern insulation standards, featuring solid walls and single-glazed windows that allow heat to escape. The UK's temperate maritime climate, with cold temperatures and high humidity, further exacerbates this issue.

How many foreigners own property in London?

Non-resident foreign buyers make up a much smaller proportion of the market; recent estimates suggest around 105,000 homes in London are currently registered with an overseas correspondence address or to an overseas company, and 270,000 in total across England and Wales.

How old are most houses in London?

Notably, 55% of homes in London were built before 1950. In comparison, 39.2% of homes across England and Wales were built before 1950, and this figure drops to 36% when looking specifically at areas outside of London.

What percentage of Londoners own their own home?

The proportion of London households which were owner-occupied was increasing from the 1960s and until the early nineties, when the rates of home ownership peaked at 57.2% in 1991. However, home ownership rates have declined since, reaching 46.7% in the latest census.

Where is tenant demand strongest in the UK?

Wrexham in North Wales had the busiest rental market in 2024, with an average of 54 tenant enquiries for each available property. The rest of the top 10 were: Glasgow, Scotland (52 average tenant enquiries for each property) Bristol, South West (51 average tenant enquiries for each property)

Where is housing most affordable in the UK?

Scotland is prominently featured in the list of most affordable areas, while London dominates the least affordable category. Angus, Scotland, is the most affordable area in the UK, with an average house price of £164,076 and a house price-to-earnings ratio of 2.31.

How many renters are there in London?

1.2 London is home to approximately 2.7 million private renters, a figure which has risen considerably since the 1990s (Census, 2021). 1.3 Rents for new tenancies fell sharply during the first part of the pandemic period but subsequently increased very rapidly.

How bad is homelessness in London?

Many other people are homeless and living in temporary accommodation provided by their local council, such as B&Bs. One in every 51 Londoners is homeless - that's nearly 170,000 people.

Is London property still a good investment?

According to the Financial Times, “London property has an international reputation for reliable investment”, and it's not hard to see why. Stability, security and resilience are key to the capital's popularity as a place to invest.

Does London have a rental crisis?

Ben Beadle, NRLA chief executive, said: “Private renters across London are facing the brunt of the housing crisis. The shortage of homes to rent is a one-way street toward higher rents and even less choice for tenants. “London needs more of all types of housing, and that has to include homes for private rent.

Is it worth buying a house in 2025 in the UK?

The Office for Budget Responsibility says in its Economic and Fiscal Outlook March 2025 that it expects house price growth of 2.8% in 2025 – an increase from its October 2024 forecast that prices would increase an average of 1.1% in 2025. Higher house prices are obviously not great news for first time buyers.

How long does the average person stay in a house in the UK?

Breaking Down the Numbers

People buying a home with a mortgage tend to stay an average of 9.2 years. In social rented homes (council housing or housing association properties), people tend to remain for an average of 12.2 years. Finally, those homeowners who have paid off their mortgage stay the longest, at 23.2 years!

What is the average lifespan of a house?

Building Structure Longevity

The core structure of your home, including the foundation, should last 80–100 years with proper maintenance, according to Angi contractor data. However, exposed elements and mechanical systems have shorter lifespans.