264 empty homes across the city brought back into use

More than 200 empty private sector homes have been brought back into use since April 2025 thanks to the work of the council’s Empty Properties and Council Tax teams.

According to government reports, there are currently more than 998,000 empty homes in England, a figure that has been steadily rising over the past five years. Of these, 265,061 are classed as long-term vacant, which means they’ve been empty for more than six months.

Locally, latest figures show 968 private residential properties in Brighton & Hove have been empty for longer than 12 months and classified as long-term vacant. This does not include second homes or those going through the probate process.

Empty properties are not only a wasted resource at a time when so many people are experiencing housing uncertainty but can also blight neighbourhoods and cause distress for those living nearby.

Taking action

As part of Empty Homes Week, which takes place from Monday 9 March to Sunday 15 March 2026, we’re encouraging residents to tell us if a property you live near has become empty or derelict.

With housing in such demand, we need to make sure best use is made of every property in the city.

There can be complex and personal reasons why people leave a property empty in Brighton & Hove, so the aim of our Empty Properties team is to collaborate holistically with the owners.

We regularly write to owners of empty homes, urging them to consider one of a number of options to ensuring the property is reoccupied. Often this is enough to spur them into action, but in more complex cases we can offer closer, individual support to help find the most suitable way forward.

Where that fails, and as a last resort, we will use a range of enforcement powers to make sure that empty properties are brought back into use.

Part of this process may be to ensure the owner deals with antisocial behaviour or overgrown and rubbish-filled gardens that are attracting rats or mice.

Council tax premiums

Council tax premiums are applied to those properties that have been empty for the longer term.

If a property is empty and unfurnished, for example between tenancies, the owner will have to pay the full amount of council tax. The owner of the property will also have to pay:

• 100% extra council tax if the property has been empty for over 1 year, up to 5 years.
• 200% extra council tax if the property has been empty for over 5 years, up to 10 years.
• 300% extra council tax if the property has been empty for over 10 years.

These are called long-term vacant property premiums and are set up to help maximise the number of homes available in Brighton & Hove. 

From 1 April 2025, if a property is empty and furnished, a second home, or a furnished let, an extra council tax charge of 100% is payable from the day on which it becomes empty. 

Raising additional revenue acknowledges the impact that second and empty homes can have on communities and housing supply; the premium also acts as an incentive to owners of empty homes to bring them back into use.

Homes for residents

Councillor Gill Williams, Cabinet member for Housing and New Homes, said: “The steep rise of empty properties across the UK is a troubling phenomenon that’s difficult to understand, especially considering the general housing shortage.

“Transforming 264 abandoned properties into homes for our residents is no easy feat and we’re proud of our hardworking Empty Properties and Council Tax teams for this achievement.

“With the supply of housing in Brighton & Hove limited, we desperately need to make sure all empty properties are brought back into use. If you’re aware of a property in the city that has become empty or derelict, please do let us know.”