Vacant, empty, holiday homes and lets in Cornwall

How many empty homes are there in Cornwall and why are they empty. By empty we mean those which are empty in the true sense of the word and are neither second homes or holiday lets. “Definition of an empty home.An empty home is classified as a dwelling which is vacant because it is either between occupants, undergoing modernisation, in disrepair or awaiting demolition". [Halifax, Press Release, 2010]

Using the three sources - census data, the Council tax base and business rates data, results in the following breakdown of the census total of 35,060.

Empty homes = 6,279 [18%] CTB.

Second homes = 11,455 [33%] Census.

Holiday lets = 9,500 [27%] Business rates.

Other 2nd/hol lets = 2,187 [6%] Difference between CTB and census figure.

Other = 5,639 [16%]. Remainder.

If we assume 2nd /holiday lets include the 2,187, together they total 23,142 or 8% of the total.

There is a question - what accounts for the 5,639 discrepancy?

[Total of 285,580 dwellings. Census 2021].

Why are properties empty?

The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership in their latest annual report identified the reasons for homes becoming empty.

These were: Owner died 23%, Owner bought with intention to renovate 22%, Rental tenancy ended 17.4%, Owner moved without selling 16.4%

Owner hospitalised/taken into care 6.8%, Former second home 4.7%, Repossession 2.6%.

As to why homes remained empty, six factors were highlighted.

“• Difficulty locating or engaging with owners (20%) • Property awaiting grant of confirmation (18%) and • Repairs ongoing (17%).

• Unwilling to sell or rent (9%) other motivation issues (8%) and • Property inherited by owners – no action taken (7%)"

Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, June 2023, Why homes become and remain empty, Annual Report 2023.

How many empty homes?

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) publishes data on homes classed as empty for Council Tax purposes. In October 2022, there were 676,304 recorded empty homes in England. This is a 3.6% increase on the previous year’s total. 248,149 were classed as ‘longterm vacant’ properties (vacant for more than six months with some exceptions).

Powers to tackle empty homes

“Local authorities have a range of powers and incentives at their disposal to bring empty homes back into use. These include, Empty Dwelling Management Orders, council tax exemptions and premiums, enforced sales, compulsory purchase, and measures to secure the improvement of empty properties. A range of other initiatives and incentives are aimed at reducing the number of empty properties, including the sale of empty Governmentowned homes and planning measures.

Empty homes premium

Billing authorities in England have power to increase council tax on properties which have been ‘unoccupied and substantially unfurnished’ for a long period of time. This is known as the ‘empty homes premium’. It is for individual billing authorities to decide whether to levy an empty homes premium.”

House of Commons, Research Briefing, 19 October 2023, Empty housing (England).