Almost 1,000 homes have been empty for more than a year in Brighton and Hove, according to official figures.
Brighton and Hove City Council said: “Work is continuing to bring empty privately owned homes in the city back into use.
“In 2024-25, the council was involved in helping to bring 145 empty private sector homes back into occupation.
“With high demand for housing in the city and a shortage of accommodation, we’re encouraging residents to tell us if a property you live near has become empty or derelict.”
The council said that today (Wednesday 8 October) had been designated World Vacant Homes Day – “a new international initiative to raise awareness and encourage action to bring long-term vacant residential properties back into use”.
The council added: “Locally, latest figures show 968 homes in Brighton and Hove have been vacant for longer than 12 months and classified as long-term empty.
“This does not include second homes or those going through the probate process.
“There can be complex and personal reasons why people leave a property empty, and the council’s empty properties team works with owners to offer advice and support to help them bring their properties back into use.
“Increased council tax premiums on empty properties are also helping to discourage homes being left unoccupied.
“The team also responds to concerns from neighbours, for example, if a garden at an empty property has become badly overgrown, or a property has become a target for anti-social behaviour.
“If necessary, as a last resort, the council can take enforcement action to bring an empty property back into use, if it is having a serious impact on a neighbouring property or a community as a whole.
“A 100 per cent council tax premium is now applied to unfurnished properties left empty for a year.
“This was introduced in April 2024 and means unfurnished empty homes are now liable for double council tax after being empty for one year.
“This increases to three times council tax liability after five years and four times for properties that have been empty for 10 years.
“If a property is empty and furnished, a second home or a furnished let, changes introduced by the council in April this year mean an extra council tax charge of 100 per cent is payable from the day on which it becomes empty.”
Labour councillor Gill Williams, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “With a shortage of housing in Brighton and Hove, even returning a fraction of empty homes to use can make a significant difference.
“Bringing homes back into occupation can change lives by providing people with somewhere to call home and help to transform areas by avoiding the buildings falling into disrepair or attracting anti-social behaviour.
“If you’re aware of a property in the city that has become empty or derelict, please do let us know.”
Those that are to leave Property within the City -that are being knocked down within the next 5 years-could be move into the Right Property for there Household needs-while work is being done to Demolished and put new up, and place Tenants back into the Homes if they wish to move back into Area.
Bottom half of The Drive has been empty for years….funny the council have done nothing
Is that the series of properties owned by that infamous guy?
yup
Exactly. It’s quite sad as they are such beautiful buildings. They are starting to show worrying signs of disrepair. The council need to escalate matters. The large building on the west side of the road is huge.
Hilarious because a council property next door to me has been empty for years now and still the council go in every year and do gas checks etc but haven’t put a tennant in there
Seems like a perfect place to tell them about. You’d think the dots would connect, but, it rarely works that way, in my experience.
So, they’re blaming tenants for not letting them know, but they already know. Both properties I’ve moved into in Brighton were empty for a year and shows signs of shoddy new repairs within that time.
At the risk of antagonising the usual suspects, I’m not getting a blaming vibe. Council voids are averaging four and a half months at the moment, according to the housing report, and it hasn’t really changed since the previous quarter.
Separately, you’ve had two properties from the council since moving to Brighton?
I fortunately live in a council property…there is a council flat opposite me that has been allocated to someone that hasn’t moved in for 5 years this coming January. She pops in now and again to do stuff there… many people have apparently reported it but it’s still empty/occupied with tax payers paying the rent no doubt.
I’d be all over that one, what a waste of a place!
is there anything the public can do to help with this is there a charity that looks at empty properties , guarantors for lenders etc in Brighton or elsewhere a model we can follow ?
Hmm…Community Land Trust is a potential option for managing voids when you start to talk about guardianships. The upcoming ALMO as well is another option. This £50 million investment in bringing TAs in-house will also help here too.
The council needs to get its own act together. The property behind me a council house has been empty for months. The garden weeds are 4 to 6 foot high. This after they cleared it two years ago. 9 Highfields Coldean. Get it sorted.