‘Neglect’ Leaves Council Homes Empty Despite 2,000 Long Waiting List

Published on: 18 Feb, 2026
Updated on: 18 Feb, 2026

Vacant social housing in Westborough

By Esme Campbell

Many council houses across Guildford are empty due to their poor condition, with some properties having been unoccupied since 2018, despite more than 2,000 households being on the waiting list for a home.

The state of disrepair has rendered many of Guildford’s 5,026 council homes uninhabitable, with problems including severe structural damage and leaks.

Across the borough, there are, according to Government figures, 270 vacant properties in Guildford Borough. But this figure does not tally with June 2025 figures, recently reported in GBC’s Corporate Performance Report. The report shows a total of 218 unoccupied houses 71 of which were “In the re-let process” and 147 “Void/undergoing works”.

Cllr Howard Smith

Cllr Howard Smith (Lab, Westborough) is frustrated that the council is allowing the uninhabitable council houses to remain unrepaired for so long while those on the housing waiting list face approximately a seven year wait, he said, for a two or three bedroom house.

Speaking about the numerous empty council homes in his Ward, Westborough, Smith said: “It’s just a case of neglect. An increasing volume of homes have been left empty without a decision made on their future.”

In just one area of Westborough, there are around 35 unoccupied houses, the Mayor said, many of which have metal supports due to their weak structural integrity.

Cllr Smith explained: “The issues to do with subsidence are because of the soil and clay that they’re built on, so, to a degree, this was always going to happen. There was always going to be a problem along the line.”

An empty Westborough council house, affected by subsidence, requiring props an steel reinforcement.

“The issue I have is the lack of action. There hasn’t been the will or the acknowledgement that things need to be sorted out.”

Guildford Borough Council (GBC) has a ring-fenced fund for its social housing stock, but there is still an active police investigation into possible fraud connected with a multi-million pound overspend on maintenance contracts.

Mismanagement of funds led to an overspend in the region of £18 million from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget in 2022.

A review by SOLACE in 2023 found that, among other factors, the overspend was a result of inadequately completed work, and an increasing number of complaints were being received from tenants about repairs and enhancements.

The scandal led to five agency employees having their contracts terminated and the suspension of two staff members.

Despite this, a controversial decision to allocate a new HRA budget was made by the council in December, pledging £12.5 million for upgrading kitchens and bathrooms.

The decision was met with criticism from several councillors, who believed it unwise to spend more while the police investigation continues.

Cllr Maddy Redpath.

Cllr Maddy Redpath (R4GV, Castle) was one of them, who, at the time, said: “I just can’t back something that might repeat failure when we haven’t finished mopping up the last one.”

But supporters of the decision believed that improving the quality of housing should take priority.

Cllr Julia McShane

Council leader and lead councillor for Housing, Julia McShane, (Lib Dem, Westborough) said it was important that residents should have safe, decent homes, even while admitting previous mistakes.

Reflecting on the hesitancy surrounding the financial side of it, Cllr Smith said: “There is a lot of money in [the HRA] account. I would like to see that being invested wisely to get homes back into action, and ideally to build more homes, as well.”

Many of the abandoned houses have severe structural issues and will need more than just a new kitchen and bathroom. The Mayor expects a lot of these buildings will have to be demolished.

The Dragon has contacted Cllr McShane for a response, but has not yet received one.