Lambeth Council has announced new plans to bring empty homes back into use in a bid to meet the ‘huge demand’ for accommodation in the borough.
The council’s Empty Homes and Voids Action Plan seeks to improve data collection on the number of vacant properties and enhance contractor accountability, to ensure homes are being repaired and made ready for people to move in as quickly as possible.
It comes as 5,500 people made homelessness applications to Lambeth Council last year, with pressure for temporary accommodation continuing to rise.
Cllr Danny Adilypour, the Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Housing, Investment and New Homes, said: “Housing is in short supply in Lambeth, our housing waiting list is long and the lack of affordable homes put real pressure on our residents and our local communities. It is also putting a huge strain on the council’s budget.
“Across the private sector, housing associations and our own council stock we know there are a range of properties that are empty for a range of reasons.
“We have adopted this new action plan to ensure as many houses as possible are made available to local households as quickly as possible.”
Plans also involve encouraging residents to report any empty homes to the council by emailing emptyproperties@lambeth.gov.uk or by filling out a form at lambeth.gov.uk.
Upon receiving reports, the council will investigate, contact the owner, and work to bring the property back into use when possible.
Across England, the demand for housing far outstrips the supply.
There were 676,304 empty homes according to council tax stats in 2022, up 3.6 per cent on the year before.
With more people needing homes than there are available, prices have risen, making it harder for many to afford to buy or rent.
The shortage of affordable housing is especially felt in cities and rural areas, where rising costs and a lack of new developments are putting pressure on the housing market.
This imbalance continues to drive up homelessness and push many people into temporary or unsuitable accommodation.
