Westminster Council has urged the Government to grant local authorities greater powers to seize long-term vacant properties, after research revealed thousands of homes in central London remain unoccupied while the council spends millions housing homeless families.
The council disclosed that it is spending £140 million on temporary accommodation for families in need, while at least 11,000 properties sit empty across the borough. It is now calling for changes to the law that would allow councils to apply for control of private sector properties left vacant for more than six months.
A housing crisis in the heart of London
Westminster Council leader Adam Hug highlighted the severity of the issue, pointing to two homes owned by residents in Qatar that have remained vacant for 20 years.
“Investment properties in Westminster are nothing new, but we are past crisis point in a world where this council has just agreed to spend £140 million on temporary accommodation to try and contain our housing lists,” Mr Hug said.
“Our officers discovered two properties with an owner in Qatar that had been empty for 20 years. It is difficult to justify that in a world where the taxpayer is funding people in expensive hotels because there is nowhere in the City to live.”
Empty homes vs. rising homelessness
According to council figures, approximately 34,400 residential properties in Westminster—around a quarter of the borough’s total housing stock—are not occupied by full-time residents.
Once factors such as short-term lets, migrant accommodation, and other exemptions were accounted for, the council identified around 11,000 properties as long-term vacant homes.
The issue is particularly severe in the West End and Knightsbridge, where a combination of second homes, holiday lets, and empty properties means that nearly half of all properties are not occupied by full-time residents.
Strengthening the law on empty homes
In response to the crisis, Westminster Council has appointed an empty properties officer to investigate vacant homes, using official records and in-person visits to identify underutilised housing.
The council is now lobbying the Government to update the law, making it easier to issue Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs)—legal measures allowing councils to take control of long-term vacant private properties and bring them back into use.
Mr Hug outlined the council’s proposals:
- Shortening the period before EDMOs can be applied for, from two years to six months.
- Granting the council priority over mortgage lenders, allowing it to take over or even sell a vacant property if a compulsory purchase order (CPO) is obtained.
“We would like the power to apply for an EDMO after a property has been empty for more than six months,” Mr Hug said.
“We would also like legislation changed so the council has a primary charge on the property, meaning we are ahead of mortgage companies in the queue. That would enable us to manage the property on behalf of the City or even sell it if we obtain a compulsory purchase order.”
Soho’s vanishing residential community
The council’s call for action comes amid growing concerns that central London’s housing crisis is worsening, particularly in Soho, where the residential population is declining rapidly.
Fewer than 2,000 people are now estimated to live in the West End, as entire apartment blocks are being turned into holiday rentals, effectively transforming them into unofficial hotels listed on short-term letting platforms.
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At a meeting in Parliament on Thursday, organised by Cities of Westminster and London MP Rachel Blake, Soho residents voiced concerns about the increasing number of short-term holiday lets, as well as rising crime and anti-social behaviour caused by rowdy visitors.
The issue has drawn warnings that Soho is losing its long-established residential character, with many locals fearing the area is becoming a transient tourism hub rather than a functioning community.
The future of London’s housing policy
Westminster Council’s proposals signal a push for tougher enforcement against empty homes, reflecting broader concerns that London’s housing market is failing to serve local residents.
With thousands of people in temporary accommodation or facing homelessness, councils are under growing pressure to find solutions that prioritise homes for those in need over investment properties left vacant for years.
As Westminster awaits the Government’s response, the debate over London’s empty homes and short-term lets is likely to intensify, with increasing demands for stronger regulation to protect local communities and tackle the housing crisis head-on.
