Manchester

Council calls on Manchester public to help bring hundreds of empty homes back into use

Can you help? Now's your chance.

Emily Sergeant - 16th June 2026

Residents across Manchester are being called on to help bring hundreds of empty homes across the region back into use.

Since the beginning of this year, a major review has been underway around the city’s draft strategy for bringing empty homes back into use to help meet demand for affordable homes across the city, while also improving communities by tackling empty homes that can blight an area… but now, Manchester City Council needs your help.

Following a major public consultation, the Council is now acting on feedback to accelerate plans to bring as many long-term empty homes back into active use as possible.

Although the number of long-term empty homes in Manchester is near a historic low, with the Council having managed to reduce the number by more than half since 2013, there is still more work to be done.

“Every void property is a missed opportunity to provide a family a place to live, reduce homelessness, and lessen the burden on temporary accommodation,” the Council said in a statement.

Houses — The Council is calling on the Manchester public to help bring hundreds of empty homes back into use / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)

So, how can residents help then? What do you need to do if you spot an empty home on a street nearby?

Well, the easiest way to report an empty home is to report the issue online here, or by emailing [email protected]. And then once that’s done, a team of dedicated empty homes officers will take up the case to find out who owns the property and work with the owner on a plan to bring the home back into use.

The vast number of empty homes are privately owned with complex histories, and there are some cases where an owner may have passed away.

While working collaboratively with housing providers, voluntary organisations and public services are also a key element of detecting potentially empty or ‘problematic’ homes to repurpose them.

Greater Manchester reveals £11.7m plan to tackle empty homes across the region

Officers can also support, where required, if a communication or language poses a barrier to resolving an empty home issue.

Tailored approaches to different communities – where empty homes impact neighbourhoods in different ways – are also being considered, according to the Council.

“To think, if we could bring all empty homes back into use, then we could provide more homes for those on the housing register and take pressure off the whole housing system,” explained Cllr Gavin White, who is Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development.

“The potential of making empty homes a thing of the past is huge for Manchester families looking for a place to call home – and a significant part of tackling the housing crisis.”

Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons