Empty Homes and Temporary Housing: A Winter Solution to the Housing Crisis

As the nights draw in and temperatures fall, the importance of a safe, warm home becomes impossible to ignore. Winter has a way of exposing the cracks in our housing system - with record numbers of people in temporary accommodation, and hundreds of thousands of homes standing empty across the UK. What if we could bridge that gap by using empty homes to provide temporary housing during the coldest months?

The Scale of the Problem

According to the UK Government’s latest homelessness statistics, around 127,890 households were living in temporary accommodation at the end of 2024 - a rise of more than 13% in just one year. By spring 2025, that figure had climbed to 131,140 households, including over 169,000 children, the highest number ever recorded.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, the number of long-term empty homes - properties left vacant for six months or more - reached 272,257 across England in early 2025 (Property Investments UK). That’s enough housing to accommodate roughly 650,000 people, based on average household sizes. The Office for National Statistics also reports that 6.1% of all dwellings in England were unoccupied on Census Day 2021 - almost 1.5 million homes.

Over the past five years, the number of long-term empty homes has risen nearly 10%, according to the Local Government Association. Many of these properties are structurally sound and located in areas where housing demand is high - making them a potential lifeline for people without a home this winter.

Why Winter Makes This Urgent

The connection between cold weather and housing insecurity is clear. Each year, people living in inadequate accommodation face severe risks from damp, mould, and lack of heating - conditions that can cause respiratory illness, worsen mental health, and even lead to premature death.

According to Shelter, winter is the period when councils and charities scramble to open emergency shelters and "cold weather provision" to keep people safe. But these are short-term fixes. Empty homes could offer something far better - proper temporary housing with stability, dignity, and warmth.

Empty Homes as a Winter Housing Solution

Repurposing empty homes for temporary housing isn’t a new idea, but it’s one that’s gaining momentum. The charity Crisis argues that bringing vacant properties back into use could have “a real impact on reducing homelessness” and do so without the long lead times associated with new construction.

Once refurbished, empty homes can offer better quality environments for people in need of temporary housing. They provide self-contained accommodation that is safer, more comfortable, and offers greater privacy than hostels or bed and breakfasts.

Another advantage is location. Many families placed in temporary accommodation are moved miles away from their schools, workplaces, and support networks. By making use of empty homes within existing communities, people can remain close to familiar surroundings and maintain vital connections.

These properties can also be quickly adapted to be winter-ready. With insulation, heating, and running water, they provide warmth and security during the colder months, helping to keep vulnerable residents healthy and safe.

Repurposing empty homes is also an exercise in resource efficiency. It focuses not on building more, but on making better use of what already exists - cutting both waste and costs in the process.

Finally, there are wider community benefits. Occupied homes deter anti-social behaviour and help prevent neighbourhood decline. What might otherwise be an eyesore becomes an asset, strengthening the area and improving the lives of those who live there.

Making It Happen

At MOOT, we believe that every empty home is an opportunity. Our OccupID data tool helps local authorities, housing associations, and property managers identify and repurpose empty properties quickly - transforming them into safe, habitable spaces for temporary accommodation during the toughest months of the year.

By using OccupID.com, housing teams can:

• Map and track empty homes in their area
• Connect with property owners ready to make their homes available
• Streamline the process of matching empty properties to people in need
• Support faster, smarter use of housing stock through digital collaboration

This winter, we’re calling on local councils, housing providers, and community partners to act now. Let’s make sure no one faces the cold without a home, and no property sits unused when it could offer warmth and security.

👉 Visit OccupID.com to see how your organisation can turn empty homes into temporary housing this winter.