Buckinghamshire Council spent £530k on empty properties in a year, including security and upkeep, raising concerns.
Councillor Robin Stuchbury saw the spending data and expressed concern over the vacant properties, including offices, schools, and shops. He noted the figures were very large, especially given the council’s finances.
In early 2025, thirteen council properties sat empty for over six months. The costs included security and utilities, as well as repairs and general upkeep.
The council kept the property locations secret. One office cost £73,000 to maintain and is currently under offer, with legal paperwork underway. Another office cost £9,484.43, and a new lease was due this month.
One more office cost £2,382, and it might be used as a hostel. A pavilion also needed a tenant, with a maintenance cost of £10,462. A retail site cost £25,413 and is under contract for sale currently, but planning permission is still needed.
One vacant home cost £23,630. The council wants it for infrastructure and may demolish it to save money, but this requires member approval first. Stuchbury often asks about housing.
He said the spending would upset residents, as many people await housing in Buckinghamshire. In late 2024, 7,058 people needed housing, an increase of 201 since July. It is officially called ‘Bucks Home Choice’.
The council uses it to allocate affordable housing, although they do not own housing directly. Instead, they direct people to housing associations, which are called registered providers.
Stuchbury hopes for a new direction after elections, wanting to utilize inherited assets efficiently. This means reducing costs on empty buildings, and he wants affordable housing and key worker housing to potentially come from council assets.
John Chilver is responsible for housing and resources. He said the council owns many different properties, and vacancies happen for several reasons. He wants to minimize costs while keeping places secure.
Property sales will offset expenses, with the money going back into services. This helps to keep budgets balanced, so funds will then go where needed most.
Most empty buildings cannot become housing due to their design, according to Chilver. The council works with private owners instead, encouraging them to use their empty homes. They also ended empty property discounts, motivating owners to act.