Isles of Scilly Empty Homes Up 688% in a Decade, Study Finds

Almost 700% more homes sit empty on the Isles of Scilly than a decade ago, and a growing number of priced-out Brits are eyeing up these abandoned buildings as a way to escape soaring rents.

Searches for “property guardianship” have climbed 24% since 2022, averaging 3,600 a month on Google over the past year. The concept, which lets people pay reduced rent to occupy vacant buildings and deter break-ins, is also picking up on TikTok, where users share what life is like inside disused schools, offices, and other unusual spaces.

It comes as housing costs have risen by more than 40% over the last five years for renters and owners alike.

How many empty homes are out there?

The latest 2025 figures show 754,000 vacant properties across England, around 2.9% of all homes.

Greater London has the largest raw number, with more than 100,000 sitting empty, roughly 2.8% of the capital’s housing stock. Birmingham and Leeds also rank high for sheer volume.

But the picture changes when you look at the proportion of empty homes. Teesdale in County Durham tops the list, with 778 of its 12,000 properties unoccupied. That’s 6.5% of the area’s housing.

The Isles of Scilly come in second at 6.3%, followed by Wear Valley at 5.9%.

A Cornish neighbour’s dramatic shift

The Isles of Scilly, just off the coast of Cornwall, have seen the steepest rise in empty homes anywhere in the country. In 2015, only 8 properties were classed as unoccupied. By 2025 that figure had reached 63, a 688% jump.

Milton Keynes, Hounslow, York, and Harrow have also recorded significant changes.

What guardians need to watch for

David Joyson, Chief Customer Officer at specialist home insurer Homeprotect, has flagged several risks that come with living in an empty building.

On security, David said: “Abandoned, larger, semi-derelict or previously empty buildings, such as former schools or offices, may be prime targets for vandals and thieves, and they can be harder to secure properly. This can put both you and your belongings at greater risk.”

Fire safety is another concern. “Buildings not designed for residential use may not meet domestic fire safety standards,” he said. “If people are sharing the facilities, the use of portable cooking equipment, heaters, or overlooked electrical sockets can increase the likelihood of a fire.”

He recommends anyone taking on a guardianship should ask for the building’s Fire Risk Assessment, fit a battery-powered smoke alarm, keep a fire blanket to hand, and take care with kitchen equipment including air fryers.

Health hazards can also lurk in vacant buildings. David warned of damp, mould, asbestos, structural problems, and pests. He suggested guardians request the building’s Asbestos Survey and do a thorough visual check, looking out for musty odours, condensation, black, white or green spots around windows and ceilings, droppings, gnaw marks, or small piles of sawdust.

There’s also the legal side. “Property guardians are typically licensees rather than tenants, which means fewer legal rights, shorter notice periods, and less security of tenure,” David said. “If your occupancy status is unclear, you may face challenges securing appropriate insurance cover for your belongings or household circumstances.”

A warning to owners too

Property owners thinking about bringing in a guardian also have something to consider. David said allowing someone to live in a vacant property can affect home insurance eligibility, and without alternative cover in place, owners could be left unprotected against fire, theft, storm, or flood damage.

The full Homeprotect study into unoccupied homes and the motivations behind property guardianship is available here.