New project to bring empty homes across Greater Manchester back into use
It's as new research suggests 8,600 children were in temporary accommodation in March this year
A new programme aiming to tackle council temporary accommodation bills is starting in Greater Manchester by bringing long-term empty homes back into use.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority says temporary accommodation provides an essential safety net for people facing homelessness, but rising demand and a shortage of affordable housing have pushed local authorities toward costly and often unsuitable options such as hotels and bed and breakfasts.
New GMCA research shows temporary accommodation use in the city region has nearly doubled since 2019. As of March 2025, 5,915 households—including around 8,600 children—were living in temporary accommodation.
Councils spent at least £77.5 million on temporary accommodation in 2024/25, with nearly £49 million of that unrecoverable due to gaps in the welfare system and outdated Local Housing Allowance rates.
An estimated 12,700 homes across Greater Manchester have been empty for more than six months. The new £11.7m programme aims to transform up to 400 of these properties into safe and secure housing for families.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said the scale of the crisis demands bold intervention: “More than 8,000 children are among the families living in temporary accommodation in Greater Manchester and that is simply unacceptable. This experience leaves lasting scars, and that’s why we’re taking bold action.
“By bringing long-term empty homes back into use, we can ease pressure on local authorities and improve standards for families. We’re also asking landlords who join this programme to sign up to the Good Landlord Charter to help raise standards across the sector.”
The funding will support a team of 17 new Empty Homes Officers across all ten boroughs. They will work with property owners to identify, refurbish or lease empty homes quickly.
A £10.6m fund will provide financial incentives, repair support and short-term leasing options to help councils refurbish homes or bring them into use as temporary or settled accommodation.
Wigan Council has recently brought around 1,000 empty homes back into use in five years through a combination of incentives and enforcement.
Paul Dennett, City Mayor of Salford and Greater Manchester’s Lead for Housing, Homelessness and Infrastructure, said the programme demonstrates how the region’s collaborative approach can deliver real impact.
“By combining improved data, targeted investment and shared expertise, we can address pressures more effectively and ensure people have access to safe, affordable and suitable accommodation.”
Dennett emphasised that prevention remains the most effective way to reduce homelessness, but rising temporary accommodation costs are limiting councils’ ability to invest fully in early support.
“Local Housing Allowance rates have been frozen for years, pushing families to the brink in an unaffordable rental market. Reform is urgently needed.”
GMCA says it wants to ensure everyone has access to a healthy home by 2038.