New report published on low-use (empty!) homes across the UK

“Low-use homes in rural and coastal areas of the UK: Geography, impact and responses” is co-written by Rowland Atkinson and Rafaella Lima (University of 91ֱ), Jonathan Bourne (University College London) and Chris Bailey (Action on Empty Homes).

Porthtowan

The report maps out the location of ‘low-use homes’ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as low-use properties are on the rise.  ‘Low-use homes’ are defined as any residential property without a permanent resident. This includes long-term vacant properties as well as second homes, which may be rented out occasionally as short-term lets. The report seeks to understand the extent of the problem and the impact on rural and coastal areas, which have high proportions of low-use homes, and which interact with pressures such as tourism and seasonal economies.

The report makes a series of recommendation:

  1. Fairer taxation regimes for second homes
  2. Use planning classifications to prevent the loss of primary residential homes
  3. Licensing to regulate short-term lets
  4. Engaging corporate lender responsibility
  5. Improving data on home ownership and usage
  6. Making more homes available for affordable housing
  7. Addressing regional inequalities and boosting local economies

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