Croydon Council homes empty for 206 days as 8,300 wait for housing

Croydon Council is facing scrutiny over a growing number of empty council homes, with hundreds of properties remaining vacant for extended periods. As of July 2026, 417 council homes were awaiting repair or re-letting. The average time taken to bring these properties back into use has risen significantly to 206 days, an increase from 130 days in 2024/25.

This situation is occurring while more than 8,300 applicants are on Croydon's housing register, waiting for social or affordable rented homes. Furthermore, 3,269 households were living in temporary accommodation as of July 2026, highlighting the urgent need for available housing.

Analysis of vacant properties

A report prepared for Croydon's Housing Assurance Board reveals that of the 417 vacant properties, 207 require standard repairs and maintenance. An additional 141 properties need major structural or capital investment to meet safety and lettable standards. The remaining 31 properties are in the initial inspection phase before any works begin. In the last quarter, the council received an average of 40 new empty homes each month but only managed to re-let 36, falling short of its target of 60.

The report also points to past procurement issues, including three contractors engaged in 2023 who were never formally utilised by the council. This led to an adverse impact on pre-allocation processes and raised concerns about repair quality. Difficulties with rigid practices around asbestos and energy checks, coupled with inconsistent staff use of the central property database, have also contributed to delays. Administrative burdens have tied up surveyors with paperwork, diverting them from enforcing repair deadlines.

Resident concerns and council response

Les Parry, a Housing Assurance Board member and council tenant, stated that while Croydon's housing services have improved since 2021, the council's implementation of improvements remains slow. He described 'voids' and temporary accommodation as the 'poor relation' of the council's housing service. Tenant satisfaction with the council's housing services stands at 53 per cent, with Mr Parry questioning why the reasons for dissatisfaction among the remaining 47 per cent are not being sought.

Mr Parry plans to question the council at the Housing Assurance Board meeting on September 14 regarding its failure to meet median targets for void turnaround times and the disbandment of a dedicated voids project team established in 2022.

A spokesperson for Croydon Council acknowledged the importance of bringing empty homes back into use quickly. They stated that improvements have been made to the voids service, and a new void standard has been developed to ensure homes are returned to a good quality for new tenants. The council has a clear improvement plan in place and highlighted the role of the Housing Assurance Board in scrutinising this work. An update on the voids service improvement will be discussed at the September 14 meeting, which is open to the public.

Next steps

The Croydon Council Housing Assurance Board is scheduled to discuss the void property figures and the progress of the voids service improvement plan on September 14. Members of the public are able to attend the meeting.