Empty homes activists target abandoned government-owned flats

Housing campaigners have demanded action over a group of government-owned flats that have been sitting empty in north London for more than a decade.

The 28 properties, each with three or four bedrooms, were formerly occupied by prison officers working at Pentonville Prison in Islington.

Members of the group Housing Rebellion say years of neglect have left the flats in a “shocking” state, although the buildings in which they are located remain in a reasonable condition.

Housing Rebellion campaigner Tamsin Stirling told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the situation was “outrageous”, especially in the context of Islington’s pressing need for additional housing.

She added: “Many, many families are living in cramped temporary accommodation with little chance of being rehoused [and] three and four-bedroom homes are in particularly short supply.”

There are currently around 15,000 households waiting for council homes in Islington, while more than 1,000 households are living in temporary, council-run accommodation.

The activists also point out the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), which owns the flats, has spent more than £600,000 on their council tax in the past seven years. Some £146,000 of this was paid out in 2022-2023 alone, as the ministry was billed at the triple rate designed to penalise owners of homes that have been empty for more than 10 years.

According to local media reports, the MoJ had previously discussed leasing the flats to Islington Council. However, negotiations broke down after the MoJ decided to explore more lucrative alternatives.

Councillor Diarmaid Ward, Islington’s executive member for finance, planning and performance, said the council had been trying for years to repurpose the flats for local families.

“If the MoJ want to talk about how we can work together to get these desperately needed homes back into use, my door is always open,” he added.

An MoJ spokesperson said it was “considering a range of options to guarantee the best deal for the taxpayer”.