Southwark Labour's legacy of empty homes failure exposed
At last night's housing scrutiny meeting (19th October 2026), the committee uncovered the true cost of Labour's housing failure – hundreds of council homes left empty despite the housing waiting list at 23,000 households.
Earlier this year, the Liberal Democrat and Green Joint Administration announced a new Empty Homes Task Force to tackle the backlog of empty council homes left by the previous administration.
Officers presenting at the committee said that whilst the position had improved since the report was written, much more needs to be done – with new systems and a new "Head of Voids and Lettings" being put in place to tackle the "historic backlog" which is contributing to the rising turnaround times.
Cllr George Grime, Green Deputy Executive Member for Tenant and Leasehold Services, described the "scandal" of the previous Labour administration's legacy at the committee, and left no doubt that turning the situation around was a priority for the new administration.
Southwark News recently reported that a council flat on the Purbrook Estate in Bermondsey, empty since 2021, was used as a brothel this summer. Liberal Democrat Cllr David Noakes raised concerns after residents alerted him to suspicious activity at the property. This is just one example of the ongoing scandal of empty council properties that the Joint Administration has committed to tackling.
The committee also looked at progress made against the recommendations previously made in relation to the major works scandals across the Canada Estate, Devon Mansions, and Kirby Estate. These scandals had previously formed the basis of a major Liberal Democrat campaign in opposition, and together with the Regulator of Social Housing's judgement of "serious failings", prompted the group to table a motion of no confidence in the Labour Leader of the Council at the time, who resigned mere months later.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Chair of the Housing Scrutiny Committee Cllr Hellen Benavides said:
"With 23,000 households on the social housing waiting list, every empty council home is a scandal. We knew there were too many empty homes when the Joint Administration took control in May, and it took action by creating a new Empty Homes Task Force, amongst other reforms. The fact that the team is still tackling the huge backlog is truly shocking, and shows that we are only just scratching the surface of the previous Labour administration's failure.
The housing scrutiny committee will keep scrutinising the legacy of 16 years of Labour rule, and ensure the new Joint Administration makes progress to become a truly good landlord."