Reading’s Empty Homes Strategy Missed Its Target In Four Out Of Six Years — Lib Dems Call For Stronger Action

New figures disclosed at Reading Borough Council have revealed that the council met its target for bringing long-term empty homes back into use in only two of the six years of its current strategy — as Liberal Democrat councillors call for a more ambitious and transparent approach in its successor.

The figures were disclosed in response to a council question from Cllr James Moore, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Tilehurst Ward, and mark the first time performance data against the Empty Homes Strategy 2020–2026 has been made publicly available. The strategy set a target of bringing 30 long-term empty properties back into use each year; annual figures ranged from 14 to 32.

The response also confirmed that the council has raised over £3.5 million in empty homes and second homes council tax premiums since April 2024, but that this revenue is not ringfenced for empty homes work.

The premium figures disclosed were:

• Empty homes premium: £750,902 in 2024; £692,006 in 2025; £1,320,853 in 2026
• Second homes premium: £1,009,590 in 2025; £823,637 in 2026

The council has confirmed that a revised Empty Homes Strategy for 2027–2032 is in preparation and will be brought to the Housing, Neighbourhoods and Leisure Committee in March 2027.

Cllr James Moore said:

“It’s encouraging that a new strategy is on its way, and I welcome the council’s willingness to disclose this data. But the figures show that the current strategy’s targets were too modest and too often missed, and that the significant sums raised through empty homes premiums haven’t been directed back into solving the problem. The new strategy needs to be more ambitious, better funded, and properly accountable to the public.”

Reading’s Liberal Democrats are calling for the successor strategy to include stretching annual targets, ringfenced funding from the premium revenue, and a commitment to annual public reporting on performance — rather than updates being confined to private Lead Councillor briefings as has been the case under the current strategy.

They are also calling on the council to commit to using new Government powers — announced in September 2026 — that will allow councils to take over homes empty for just six months rather than two years through Empty Dwelling Management Orders, and to include EDMO use in the targets and public reporting of the new strategy.

The question comes against a backdrop of over 1,400 homes in Reading sitting empty or unused, including 474 vacant for more than a year, according to Government Council Taxbase data from October 2025.