Project requirements

The Suffolk Housing Board, a regional group of local housing authorities in Suffolk, commissioned RHE Global to conduct a comprehensive review of empty homes and private sector housing engagement policies and practices in the region. The project was part of a broader effort to improve access to decent, secure and affordable housing across multiple districts facing growing housing pressures.

First, the client required an evaluation of current housing strategies, enforcement practices, and partnership models focused on returning empty homes to use. Second, they sought practical recommendations to extend alignment with local authority housing functions such as homelessness prevention, housing enforcement and private rented sector (PRS) input. Third, they wanted a focus on how empty homes could help to meet a range of housing needs, including general needs accommodation and emergency, temporary and specialist accommodation. The client requested that the project identify barriers, share national best practices and present realistic, actionable solutions that could be delivered collaboratively across local authority boundaries.

Project delivery

RHE Global adopted a multi-stage approach comprising policy, literature and research analysis and stakeholder engagement. We began by reviewing each participating authority’s key housing policies and operational frameworks, including local housing strategies, private sector housing strategies, homelessness prevention strategies and empty homes enforcement policies. This analysis gave a solid understanding of the policy environment, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement.

Our team then evaluated how empty homes data was being collected, maintained and integrated into wider housing stock condition modelling. We pinpointed the need for better data-sharing across departments and authorities, to target interventions towards properties presenting the poorest housing conditions and the highest housing need. We also facilitated extensive stakeholder engagement: structured interviews and workshops with housing officers, homelessness teams, private sector enforcement staff and lettings partnership leads. We also undertook a comprehensive survey of landlords and property owners working in partnership with local authorities. These discussions revealed operational challenges, as well as innovative practices already in place in different districts.

A key finding from this undertaking was the strong link between poor housing conditions, ill health and tenant insecurity. Many households on housing waiting lists had cited their current home’s negative impact on their health as a primary reason for seeking alternative accommodation. This insight reinforced the importance of early intervention, addressing hazards and improving housing conditions before properties became long-term empty or tenants were displaced.

RHE Global also undertook a comparative review of best practices from other UK regions. We analysed examples of successful empty homes strategies and regeneration projects, such as Kent’s ‘No Use Empty’ scheme, Hastings Borough Council’s street acquisition programme and the Welsh Government’s ‘Leasing Scheme Wales.’ These case studies imparted a valuable evidence base for our recommendations. We produced a comprehensive technical report, a summary report and a professionally designed 20-slide report summarising key findings and recommendations for presentation to senior stakeholders.

Project outcomes

The project delivered 15 actionable recommendations, framed to inform the region’s approach to empty homes and private sector housing involvement. These recommendations covered improvements to data management, policy alignment, operational procedures and strategic partnerships. One of the first priorities identified was the maintenance and continual updating of empty homes data within the housing stock condition modelling database. Without reliable data, authorities cannot accurately target resources or measure the impact of interventions. We also recommended that energy efficiency and affordable warmth advances be made integral to housing policy objectives. Given the high incidence of fuel poverty and the prevalence of excess cold hazards, particularly in the PRS, this approach would not only raise living conditions but it would also help tackle health inequalities.

The review emphasised the value of cross-departmental collaboration, particularly between homelessness, private sector housing and empty homes teams. Through better partnership working, these teams can ascertain earlier the properties and households at risk, prevent homelessness and intervene before properties deteriorate into long-term empty properties. 

Area-based regeneration emerged as another priority. Drawing on successful models like Lowestoft’s Heritage Action Zone, we recommended that targeted interventions be scaled up in the most deprived districts, combining housing renewal with wider economic regeneration. This included the opportunity to repurpose empty private rented sector properties to increase the supply of social and affordable housing. Such an approach would supplement the limited availability of social housing, provide long-term solutions for households in housing need and support the principle of enforcement being a last resort.

The review also proposed the creation of a Suffolk-wide Empty Homes Strategy to align efforts across local authority boundaries, as well as the development of a regional empty homes toolkit to ensure consistency in enforcement and intervention procedures. We recommended alignment of housing assistance policies, particularly around incentives for bringing empty properties back into use, and better utilisation of commuted sums for affordable housing projects. Formalised links between empty homes initiatives and lettings partnerships were also advised, to extend holistic support for property owners and maximise opportunities for matching refurbished properties with those in housing need. Finally, we proposed the establishment of a regional empty homes task force to drive forward collaborative initiatives. The project equipped the client with a clear, practical roadmap for using empty homes interventions to alleviate housing need, prevent homelessness and promote healthier living conditions with greater security. 

If you would like to learn more about our evaluation, policy or other regulatory consultancy services, please contact us. We’d be pleased to discuss how we can support your work.