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GMB London is calling for the capital’s councils to house those on their waiting lists in homes left empty for six months or more.

The union says that, overall, there is no alternative but for councils to increase the supply of council homes for rent at genuinely affordable rents – but using the already existing housing stock to house those on waiting lists shouldn’t be overlooked.

“Giving local councils the powers to use homes left empty for prolonged periods would help to cut the unacceptably high waiting lists across London.

“Bringing long term empty homes and flats back into use has to have a very high priority. Residential units above shops in particular can be left unoccupied for long periods and councils should be alert to the potential of such empty homes to cut waiting lists,” said Warren Kenny, GMB Regional Secretary.

As reported by 24housing, the number of empty homes nationally is up for a third consecutive year, with a national coalition wanting election commitments to converting vacant properties.

Now, a study by GMB compares the number of properties vacant for at least six months in each London borough in 2018 and the number of households on London Local Authority housing waiting lists in the same year.

In 2018 London had a total of 22,481 long-term vacant properties, 2,244 more than the year before.

At the same time, in 2018 there were 232,409 households on Local Authority housing waiting lists.

Southwark is the borough which in 2018 had the most total long-term vacant properties in London with 1,766.

The number of households on the Southwark Council housing waiting list in 2018 was 6,778.

Other London boroughs with a high number of long-term vacant properties in 2018 include:

  • Croydon – 1,521 long-term vacant dwellings and 5,138 households on the waiting list
  • Camden – 1,210 long-term vacant dwellings and 3,074 on their waiting list
  • Kensington and Chelsea – 1,115 long-term vacant dwellings and 3,330 on their waiting list
  • Lewisham – 1,115 long-term vacant dwellings and 9,921 households on their waiting list
  • Barnet – 1,065 long-term vacant dwellings and had 2,648 households on their housing waiting list in 2018

“Property owners knowing that councils had such powers would be a big incentive for these owners to keep properties occupied – it would also reduce the incentive for overseas investors investing in buy to leave empty to do so,” said Kenny.

“Overall there is no alternative but for councils to increase the supply of council homes for rent at genuinely affordable rents, but using the already existing housing stock to house people is something that shouldn’t be overlooked,” he said.