Empty Homes Outnumber Holiday Lets in Most UK Local Authorities

A recent study by the Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA) and Key Data has revealed that empty homes outnumber holiday lets in the majority of UK local authorities. The analysis of 313 local authority areas showed that 58% of them have more homes sitting vacant long-term than holiday lets.

A stark contrast between empty homes and holiday lets in the UK

The worst affected is Arun Borough, which includes the popular seaside town of Bognor Regis, with more than 400 long-term empty homes in this local authority, 6.7 times more than the 66 holiday lets in the area. Meanwhile, Wales and Scotland have seen the numbers of empty homes dwarf the size of the holiday let market. Welsh councils such as Caerphilly and the valleys of Rhondda Cynon Taf have over five times more empty homes than holiday lets, while the Highlands in Scotland have 4.4 times as many.

Thousands of properties sitting idle in Scotland

The biggest difference in raw numbers was in Aberdeen, where there are 4,370 more empty homes than holiday lets — 4.6 times more. STAA and Key Data said that these are thousands of properties that bring no value to the local community in Scotland’s third-largest city.

“Holiday lets have been taking the blame for the housing crisis for a long time, but this research reveals the true picture.” - Andy Fenner, STAA CEO

According to an Oxford Economics report, the short-term let sector brought in £27.7bn to GDP and supported almost half a million jobs in 2021. Despite this, new measures mean that holiday lets can be subject to similar tax premiums as long-term vacant homes.

A vibrant part of the UK’s tourist industry

There are 330,325 long-term empty homes in England, Scotland, and Wales, according to the latest official figures. STAA chief executive officer Andy Fenner says that policymakers should focus on solving the housing crisis by addressing the issue of empty homes, rather than scapegoating the holiday let industry.

“Empty homes benefit no one, and can even have negative effects on neighbours and local communities when left unattended and in disrepair, while short-term lets are a vibrant part of our tourist industry, bringing in visitors from around the world.” - Andy Fenner, STAA CEO

The housing crisis is a complex issue, and it cannot be solved overnight. However, making use of our existing housing stock would be a great place to start. By addressing the issue of empty homes, policymakers can create a more sustainable and equitable housing market for all.

A complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach