Hull City Council is building new council homes throughout the city – but that’s not the only way we’re making more homes available.
We’re also buying new-build homes from developers and bringing empty properties back into use, making sure they meet the right standards and are suitable for local families and residents. This approach can often be quicker than building every home ourselves. Working with local builders and developers also helps to support local jobs and investment.
Homes we’re buying
As part of our Housing Growth Plan, which we launched in January 2025, we have already agreed to buy 95 homes across six sites and are on the way to buying 36 more across two additional sites.
Homes we’re bringing back to life
We’re also continuing to transform empty buildings into homes. Our Empty Homes Programme began in 2012 and, with government funding and housing investment, has helped to turn hundreds of vacant properties into places for people to live. Some of these buildings have become homes for people who have experienced homelessness or who need extra support.
We’ve also worked with private owners to help bring empty homes back into use, with the improvements helping to revive neighbourhoods. Here’s our recent progress:
- 488 empty homes bought by Hull City Council for social rent
- 31 in the process of being bought by the Council
- 884 empty privately-owned buildings turned into modern homes by working with the owners and development partners
Altogether, these efforts have helped return 1,402 homes to use across Hull. That’s in addition to the 700 new Council homes we’ve built over the past 10 years.
Whether we’re building new homes, buying properties from developers or turning empty houses into homes once again, the aim is the same: to give more Hull residents access to a safe, secure and affordable place to call home.