THOUSANDS of homes in Somerset are empty – and county leaders want to see them filled.
As part of National Empty Homes Week, which runs until March 15, Somerset Council is encouraging residents to report vacant properties as part of an initiative aiming to highlight the waste of such buildings.
The council said long-term empty homes can become a focal point for anti-social behaviour, crime, littering and more, creating a nuisance for neighbours.
“Vacant homes also attract vermin, can be unsafe and they can also de-value other houses nearby,” a spokesperson said.
The council works with homeowners to bring empty homes back into use by offering them information, advice and guidance, with the number of empty properties in Somerset falling by 73 between 2024 and 2025 (2,406 to 2,333).
Councillor Sarah Wakefield, lead member for adult services, housing, and homelessness, said: “I am glad to see fewer empty properties in Somerset year-on-year, but more progress is needed, and you can help us lower that number even further.
“If there is a property that you know has been vacant in your local area for six months or longer, please take the time to tell us its address and postcode by using the form on our website.”
Grants and loans are available to owners of homes that have been empty for an extended period, in a bid to encourage them to carry out work necessary to bring them back into use – including being occupied by the owner or rented out to tenants.
READ MORE: Property news from your Somerset Leveller
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