Across England, the housing conversation is dominated by the question, how do we create more homes and fast. While new development remains essential, there is a growing recognition that part of the answer may already exist within the homes we’ve built but aren’t using.
More than 260,000 properties across England currently sit empty long-term. At the same time, demand for affordable, flexible housing continues to rise, particularly in cities where high rents and limited development land are placing increasing pressure on supply. Together, these two realities present a clear opportunity.
Shared Living as a Housing Solution
Shared Living, delivered through well-designed and professionally managed HMOs, is uniquely positioned to maximise the potential of existing housing stock. Unlike traditional single-tenancy homes, shared properties create multiple housing opportunities within one building, offering an efficient way to increase supply without the delays and costs associated with new construction.
Currently, HMOs account for an estimated 1.8% of England’s total housing stock. If a similar proportion of the country’s long-term vacant homes were repurposed as Shared Living properties, thousands of additional homes could be introduced to the rental market relatively quickly.
In cities where Shared Living already plays a larger role, the potential is even more significant. London, for example, has one of the strongest Shared Living markets in the country, meaning repurposing vacant homes could deliver a meaningful increase in rental capacity. Other regions, including Yorkshire & Humber, the South East and the North West, also present strong opportunities for growth through smarter use of existing housing.
Meeting Modern Tenant Needs
Today’s renters are increasingly looking for homes that provide not just a place to live, but a place to belong. Shared Living offers built-in community, flexibility, and access to well-connected urban locations that might otherwise be out of reach. This is particularly important as hybrid and remote working continue to reshape how people interact, making the home environment a more central part of social life. As property standards improve and tenant expectations rise, Shared Living is becoming recognised as a high-quality housing model that supports both affordability and wellbeing.
The Benefit to Communities
Repurposing vacant properties as Shared Living homes delivers benefits that extend beyond increasing housing supply. Bringing empty buildings back into use can help revitalise neighbourhoods, reduce urban decline, and strengthen local communities by creating vibrant, occupied homes in properties that might otherwise remain underused.
Rather than viewing Shared Living as a niche or temporary housing option, it is time to recognise it as a core part of the modern housing landscape, capable of unlocking thousands of homes that are currently sitting empty and transforming them into thriving, connected living environments.
Across England, the housing conversation is dominated by the question, how do we create more homes and fast. While new development remains essential, there is a growing recognition that part of the answer may already exist within the homes we’ve built but aren’t using.
More than 260,000 properties across England currently sit empty long-term. At the same time, demand for affordable, flexible housing continues to rise, particularly in cities where high rents and limited development land are placing increasing pressure on supply. Together, these two realities present a clear opportunity.
Shared Living as a Housing Solution
Shared Living, delivered through well-designed and professionally managed HMOs, is uniquely positioned to maximise the potential of existing housing stock. Unlike traditional single-tenancy homes, shared properties create multiple housing opportunities within one building, offering an efficient way to increase supply without the delays and costs associated with new construction.
Currently, HMOs account for an estimated 1.8% of England’s total housing stock. If a similar proportion of the country’s long-term vacant homes were repurposed as Shared Living properties, thousands of additional homes could be introduced to the rental market relatively quickly.
In cities where Shared Living already plays a larger role, the potential is even more significant. London, for example, has one of the strongest Shared Living markets in the country, meaning repurposing vacant homes could deliver a meaningful increase in rental capacity. Other regions, including Yorkshire & Humber, the South East and the North West, also present strong opportunities for growth through smarter use of existing housing.
Meeting Modern Tenant Needs
Today’s renters are increasingly looking for homes that provide not just a place to live, but a place to belong. Shared Living offers built-in community, flexibility, and access to well-connected urban locations that might otherwise be out of reach. This is particularly important as hybrid and remote working continue to reshape how people interact, making the home environment a more central part of social life. As property standards improve and tenant expectations rise, Shared Living is becoming recognised as a high-quality housing model that supports both affordability and wellbeing.
The Benefit to Communities
Repurposing vacant properties as Shared Living homes delivers benefits that extend beyond increasing housing supply. Bringing empty buildings back into use can help revitalise neighbourhoods, reduce urban decline, and strengthen local communities by creating vibrant, occupied homes in properties that might otherwise remain underused.
Rather than viewing Shared Living as a niche or temporary housing option, it is time to recognise it as a core part of the modern housing landscape, capable of unlocking thousands of homes that are currently sitting empty and transforming them into thriving, connected living environments.
