North Norfolk District Council is working to get more empty homes back into use

Date published: 10th March 2026

North Norfolk has a housing shortage due to a growing population and limited opportunity to develop land for additional housing.

The Council has been working in multiple ways to help bring empty homes back to life, through early intervention, local intelligence and support for property owners. Of the 56,700 properties in Norfolk, 1.44% are considered empty homes.

The Council's Empty Homes Officer and Revenues Team are actively working with property owners to help bring unoccupied and unfurnished properties back into use.

This year, the Council has supported over 50 property owners get their empty homes back into use by offering advice on letting or selling properties and helping owners connect with estate agents, auction houses, housing associations, and potential buyers or tenants.

Guidance is also available on refurbishment, with information on necessary repairs, renovations, and potential financial assistance through grants or loans.

Legal and financial matters can often delay a property’s return to use; the team can provide support on probate and inheritance, council tax implications for empty homes, and help navigate planning permissions or building regulations.

Energy efficiency is another key area, with advice on improving EPC ratings, insulation, and heating systems, and signposting owners to government grants for energy-efficient upgrades.

A long‑term empty home is any property, e.g. flat, house, or House in Multiple Occupation, that has been unoccupied and unfurnished for six months or longer.

These long-term empty homes can be privately or publicly owned and may be left vacant for various reasons, such as:

• Owner neglect or inability to sell/rent.
• Inheritance or probate delays.
• Legal disputes or planning restrictions.
• Property in need of repairs or renovation.
• Investment properties are left intentionally empty.

Empty homes can contribute to housing shortages, urban decay, and anti-social behaviour, which is why councils and local authorities, like North Norfolk District Council, work to bring them back into use.

The Council takes empty homes seriously; as an authority, the Council cannot stop owners from leaving properties empty, but the owners are levied with extra council tax if the property is left vacant for twelve months (100% increase), and a further rise after five years (200% increase) and ten years (300% increase).

There is a shortage of homes to rent in the district, with only around 270 affordable homes becoming available each year. Empty homes can provide much-needed housing options for local residents and generate rental income for the owner, provided the home is in good condition.

Cllr Jill Boyle, portfolio holder for Housing and People Services, said:

"As a Council, we work hard to minimise the number of empty homes across the district. As Portfolio Holder for Housing, I consider this an important part of what we do as a Council.

"Once we are aware of an empty property, we can provide a range of support to the property owner to facilitate the property coming back into use. There are over 800 empty homes, many of which could be homes for local people. It is such a shame to see an empty property when so many local people need a home.”

You can contact the Empty Homes Officer to explore your options and make a difference in your community today. Equally, if you see an empty or neglected property around the district, you can also report it to the Council, where further investigations can be made to help lower the number of empty homes in the district.

You can get in touch with the Council by emailing empty.homes@north-norfolk.gov.uk, calling 01263 516176 or completing this form - Home | Report an empty home