Across the UK, hundreds of thousands of homes stand empty, while over a million households wait years for social and affordable housing. This imbalance highlights a structural problem in the nation’s housing system and points to a fundamental flaw in how housing supply is managed and utilised. Homes left empty Read more…
Ahead of World Vacant Homes Day on 8th October, we are highlighting some of the issues that stop properties from being lived in, particularly the probate paralysis, and what can be done by families, local authorities, and professionals to help unlock these homes for the benefit of local communities. The Read more…
This week marks Empty homes week, organised by Action on Empty Homes, which uses the week to highlight the growing problem of long-term empty properties across the UK. In the financial year 2023-24, councils in England spent over £2 billion on temporary accommodation. This was spent on generally cramped, unsuitable Read more…
In 2024 the UK experienced a significant surge in repossession claims, marking a concerning trend for homeowners, landlords, and tenants alike. The increase is likely a consequence of economic pressures, high interest rates, policy changes, and the legacy of the pandemic. It can also occur where the property owner has Read more…
When someone passes away without a valid will, their estate is distributed according to the rules of intestacy. In England and Wales, these rules can lead to unexpected outcomes and are often misunderstood. This blog post aims to clarify some of the common misconceptions about intestate estates. Misconception 1: The Read more…
The process of certifying deaths in England and Wales will be subject to a significant transformation starting on 9th September 2024. These reforms, driven by the need for greater accuracy, transparency, and efficiency, mark a new era in the way deaths are recorded and scrutinised. What is the driving force Read more…
The number of empty homes increased nationally in 2023. What impact do vacant properties have, and what can local authorities do to tackle the issues that they present? Figures released by the House of Commons Library towards the end of 2023 revealed that the number of long-term empty homes has Read more…
Fraud is an ongoing issue in today’s society and with a person’s property often being their most valuable asset, property fraud cases continue to be on the rise. It is important to recognise how the fraudsters attempt to scam people; whether your property might be at risk and ways to Read more…
As we come out of the Covid-19 pandemic, recent figures show the number of families on council housing waiting lists increased to 1.18 million in 2021 with 96,060 households living in temporary accommodation in England. This week marks Empty homes week, organised by Action on Empty Homes, which uses the Read more…
What is the issue Administering an estate can take a considerable period of time, especially where the deceased owned a property. Anyone working with empty homes will have no doubt encountered difficulties when a property owner dies and there is a delay in administering their estate. Some of the common Read more…