Empty Homes in the UK | Property Matters, featuring Simon Taylor скачать в хорошем качестве

Empty Homes in the UK | Property Matters, featuring Simon Taylor

In this episode of Property Matters, host Steven Galpin tackles one of the most talked-about issues in UK housing: long-term empty homes. Joining him is Simon Taylor, founder of Empty Property Hunters, whose mission is to identify neglected properties and help bring them back into use. Simon explains how empty homes are spotted—often by members of the public, from neighbours to delivery drivers—using tell-tale signs like overgrown gardens, piling post, structural decline, and abandoned vehicles. He reveals how his team investigates ownership through public records and detailed research techniques, sometimes tracing family links and overseas connections to locate absent owners. The conversation explores the wider impact of empty properties: the nuisance and financial consequences for neighbours, the strain they place on communities, and the moral debate around leaving homes unused during a national housing shortage. Simon also outlines why many homes remain vacant—bereavement, probate delays, disputes, relocation, and overwhelm—and discusses the role of council tax premiums and potential policy changes in encouraging owners to act. Practical, eye-opening and packed with real-world examples, this episode shines a spotlight on why empty homes matter—and what it really takes to get them lived in again.