At Habitat for Humanity Great Britain, we envision a world where everyone has a safe place to call home. We believe that a decent home helps to permanently break the cycle of poverty allowing families to achieve strength, stability, and self-reliance. Our global projects increase access to housing for millions worldwide each year. By working hand in hand with communities, since 1976 we have provided over 1.9 million homes and helped over 59 million people.
As part of the international federated Habitat for Humanity network, we address the UK housing crisis by piloting innovative solutions to contribute to nationwide housing provision. Join us in making homes a reality.
Empty Spaces to Homes
In 2021, our research identified 7,000 vacant commercial properties owned by Local Authorities in England, Scotland, and Wales, with the potential to create 19,500 residential units. Adding to this, an estimated 165,000 privately-owned empty premises across Great Britain could be converted into 458,700 homes.
Recognising housing as a bottleneck, Habitat for Humanity GB’s Empty Spaces to Homes initiative showcases scalable solutions. Through pilot projects in London, future ones in Scotland, and an international venture in Warsaw, we’ve developed a replicable model for transforming non-residential spaces into homes.
Our open-source toolkit aims to encourage adoption among local authorities, community groups, civil society organisations, and socially-minded private sector property landlords. Join us in making a meaningful impact on the UK housing crisis.
Addressing Persistent Barriers to Adoption
Legal Barriers: Presented by Change of Use, Planning Permissions, and Permitted Development
Habitat for Humanity is actively creating an enabling legal and policy environment. Our model is recommended as best practice in recent inquiries by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Housing Market and Housing Delivery and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Ending Homelessness. Our 2024 UK advocacy strategy includes a dedicated campaign for Empty Spaces to Homes.
The Economic Benefits of Empty Spaces to Homes– An Investable Opportunity?
Historically, through our ‘lease and repair model,’ Habitat for Humanity GB raised philanthropic funds from the UK private sector, philanthropic bodies, and grant-funders. This income, supplemented by support from social investment organisations, funds capital works with an aim for local housing allowance-linked rents to reimburse the investment over a 15-year lease window. Each bedspace costs around £70,000 to develop, reimbursed via local housing allowance in 7 years, leaving 8 years of income for maintenance or other projects.
This income becomes more compelling when considering the cost of temporary accommodation for local councils. London Councils, the cross-party body representing the city’s 32 boroughs, reports that 169,393 people, including over 80,000 children, are in temporary accommodation. London Council’s also estimates that the capital’s 32 boroughs spend approximately £60m per month on such accommodation.
Habitat for Humanity London pilot projects demonstrated significant savings, with our retrofitted properties saving £950 per person per week or £49,400 per year compared to temporary accommodation. Applying a similar economic ratio in other high-pressure housing locations with a robust supply of local authority-owned empty premises, the Empty Spaces to Homes model offers substantial savings if funded by the local authority or a potential rate of return if funded by an investment vehicle.
Initial meetings with financial services companies, and investment funds to seek advice and insight, have elicited instead offers of investment, so we are confident that this fund has a demonstrable investor audience which we would hope to grow and scale. However, to scope and support this investment fund opportunity in more detail, Habitat for Humanity GB now require in house resourcing and project management, seed funding for establishment, and funds to bring in expert consultation.
At this stage, we are looking for partners with a track record of supporting innovation, and new models of financing to support with their insight, and philanthropic investment in our fund scoping and establishment.
For more information and to set up an initial introductory discussion do reach out to Tessa Kelly at: tkelly@habitatforhumanity.org.uk