Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many social sector homes are empty in England.

The number of empty social sector homes in England as at 31 March 2024 can be calculated using published statistics for vacant dwellings owned by local authorities and private registered providers of social housing.

• There were 33,904 vacant dwellings owned by local authorities in England on 31 March 2024 (see MHCLG Live Table 615).

• There were 37,231 vacant low cost rental general needs dwellings and 17,744 vacant low cost rental supported housing dwellings owned by large private registered providers of social housing (those owning at least 1,000 dwellings) in England on 31 March 2024 (see Regulator of Social Housing’s Private Registered Providers Additional Tables 3.8 and 3.10).

• There were 5,078 vacant low cost rental dwellings owned by small private registered providers of social housing (those owning fewer than 1,000 dwellings) in England on 31 March 2024 (see “SDR24_Small_PRP_Rents Vacancies” table of the Regulator of Social Housing’s Private Registered Providers Data Release).

Therefore, there were a total of 93,957 empty social sector homes in England on 31 March 2024, including homes earmarked for sale or demolition, or awaiting or undergoing major repairs.

This may include a small number of units owned by English private registered providers which are situated outside of England. Low-cost home ownership stock owned by English private registered providers are excluded.