Manchester launches consultation on long-term empty homes

The local authority is looking for locals’ opinion on its new Empty Homes Strategy, which aims to ease pressure on housing supply. 

According to Manchester City Council, in October 2025 there were around 1,564 long-term empty homes, representing about 0.6% of the city’s total housing stock. 

In a bid to address the issue, the council have launched a public consultation on its draft Empty Homes Strategy. 

The council said empty homes are a ‘wasted resource’ at a time when demand for affordable housing remains high. 

The new plan builds on Manchester’s 2022 housing strategy, which pledged to deliver at least 10,000 affordable, social and council homes.

Cllr Gavin White, executive member for housing and development at Manchester City Council, said: ‘The council has made great progress in bringing thousands of long-term empty homes back into use and that means thousands of Manchester people have a home to live in – that otherwise may be at risk of homelessness or struggling to find affordable accommodation. 

‘Despite this good track record, we know there are still a few thousand homes in the city that are not being used – and during a housing crisis this is a wasted resource at a time when we know families across the city are waiting for a home to live in.’

As of late 2024 and early 2025, it was estimated that over 15,000 households are on the Manchester Housing Register. 

The council has acknowledged that bringing vacant properties back into use is a complex process. Some homes remain empty following an owner’s death, meaning the next of kin must be tracked down before the property can be returned to the market. 

Cllr White added: ‘The vast majority of the owners of these homes are not willingly leaving these properties unused. There are often complex reasons why a home is empty-which is why we are developing our strategy to support owners to bring them back to market to provide housing for people who desperately need it.’

Some of the key points in the new Empty Homes Strategy include:

• Targeting problem properties that cause problems for neighbours
• Retrofit homes to make them warmer and more sustainable 
• Using empty homes as temporary or adapted accommodation for people facing/experiencing homelessness 

The consultation is set to run for the next six weeks and residents can provide feedback by clicking on this link, or attending one of several drop-in events taking place across the city. The next one is scheduled for 28th January at Manchester Central Library, from 10am-2pm. 

The full draft of the Empty Homes Strategy can be found here. 

Image: Mylo Kaye/UnSplash 

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