Matt Lenzie, Construction Capital
6 October 2025 snapshot
Research published 13 September 2026
| Recorded dwellings | Oct 2024 | Oct 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| All vacant | 719,470 | 754,264 |
| Long-term vacant | 264,884 | 303,185 |
38,301 more long-term vacant homes in the recorded count.
Long-term means empty for more than six months, subject to the source exclusions. Reporting reviews affected the comparison.
| October snapshot | All vacant | Long-term vacant |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 600,179 | 203,596 |
| 2019 | 648,114 | 225,845 |
| 2021 | 653,025 | 237,340 |
| 2024 | 719,470 | 264,884 |
| 2025 | 754,264 | 303,185 |
Counts describe recorded stock at each snapshot. They do not track individual homes through time.
| Region | Oct 2025 homes | Annual change |
|---|---|---|
| London | 47,287 | +23.2% |
| South East | 42,099 | +17.4% |
| South West | 28,553 | +18.2% |
| West Midlands | 32,585 | +14.6% |
| East of England | 32,123 | +14.3% |
| North West | 42,606 | +9.5% |
| Yorkshire & Humber | 33,293 | +12.2% |
| East Midlands | 26,475 | +8.5% |
| North East | 18,164 | +7.0% |
Comparison: 7 October 2024 to 6 October 2025. Counts reflect region size as well as vacancy. Data and calculations
| Region | Extra recorded homes | Share of England increase |
|---|---|---|
| London | +8,901 | 23.2% |
| South East | +6,230 | 16.3% |
| South West | +4,395 | 11.5% |
Together: 19,526 of England's 38,301 increase in long-term vacant dwellings, October 2024 to October 2025.
The long-term share increased from 36.8% to 40.2% between October 2024 and October 2025.
The remaining recorded vacant categories fell by 3,507 dwellings. Those categories include exemptions and do not represent a pure count of short vacancies.
These percentages use all vacant dwellings as the denominator.
Some councils reviewed empty properties and second homes following changes to council tax premiums. MHCLG says those reviews affected the reported figures.
The data cannot separate changes in physical occupancy from changes in reporting or classification.
A high vacant-home count can guide local investigation. Ownership, condition and local demand determine which properties could return to use.
Our housing affordability study provides a separate view of prices relative to earnings. It does not establish demand for individual vacant properties.
Construction Capital's market reports bring together complementary housing and planning research.
Original workbook, 220 source observations, regional comparisons, national history, Python code and methods.
England and nine regions. October snapshots, 2015-2025. Table 615 archive retrieved 13 September 2026 from the page updated 25 June 2026. Regional totals reconcile to England for both measures in every year.
Government data: Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0. Analysis: Matt Lenzie / Construction Capital, CC BY 4.0.