Evidence to the Senedd’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee has highlighted the scale of Wales’s empty-homes problem.
23,000
Around 10,000 potentially long-term empty, according to a housing association witness
Community Housing Cymru deputy chief executive Clarissa Corbisiero argued that Wales needs a coordinated long-term approach combining new construction, property acquisition and bringing empty homes back into use.
Housing association representatives also warned that the cost of meeting housing standards can make acquiring and renovating older properties financially unviable. Witnesses called for better use of compulsory purchase powers and more practical support for local authorities.
Why it matters: Returning long-term empty properties to use could reduce pressure on temporary accommodation and increase housing supply without requiring every additional home to be newly built.
Status: Evidence and recommendations, not a new government decision. The committee hearing took place on 22 October; the findings received renewed reporting on 30 October. The 10,000 figure is a witness’s approximation, not a newly published official count
