Empty homes are more than just vacant buildings—they are missed opportunities for families who need housing and can have a negative impact on the streets and neighbourhoods around them. Sometimes homes are left empty because of money worries, legal issues, or the cost of repairs, leaving many owners unable or unwilling to act. Each case is unique, so there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ solution. Left unchecked, these homes can undermine community pride and hinder Hull’s broader housing goals. Hull’s Housing Strategy and Community Plan work towards creating safe and vibrant neighbourhoods and tackling empty homes is an important way to support that.
The Actions We’re Taking
A lot of this work is already happening across different council teams. The Empty Homes Plan brings it all together in one place and helps us monitor it properly as a single, joined up programme. The Plan sets a clear target: return 50 empty homes to use each year. To achieve this, we’re engaging with owners to offer practical support. There are already a number of financial incentives, such as increased Council Tax charges on long-term empty homes to encourage owners to act, as well as the other approaches in this plan.
The Council is actively purchasing empty properties to bring them back into use as council homes.
Where properties cause problems and owners do not respond to our offers of help, we can use enforcement powers, like Empty Dwelling Management Orders and Compulsory Purchase Orders as a last resort.
Our Direction
We know we will make the biggest difference by working together. We have set up an Empty Property Working Group to share ideas, track progress, and look for funding. We are developing a ‘matchmaking’ service to link owners of empty homes with buyers, investors, and housing organisations who can refurbish and occupy them. We will keep improving our communications so residents, landlords and community groups, know how to report empty homes and what support is available.
Hull’s Empty Homes Plan isn’t just about bricks and mortar—it’s about revitalising communities and neighbourhoods, increasing the number of homes available for people who need them, and making better use of existing buildings.
You can read the Empty Homes Plan here Empty Homes Plan | Hull
If you own an empty property and need advice, please get in touch. If you know of a home that has been empty for a long time and is causing concern, you can report it to the Council by emailing Housing.Standards@hullcc.gov.uk