Conservatives Plan to Sell Empty Council Houses in Wandsworth 2026

Key Points

• Wandsworth Council intends to reinstate its former policy of selling high-value, larger council houses when they become vacant, rather than reletting them to families on the social housing waiting list.
• The properties affected are family houses located on ordinary residential streets, many of which include gardens.
• Currently, approximately 13,000 households are on the waiting list for a council property in Wandsworth.
• Among those residing in temporary accommodation in the borough, 1,213 families require a home with three bedrooms or more, facing an estimated 82-year wait for a property of that size.
• The Conservative administration, which regained control of the council in May, proposes using proceeds from the sales to fund repairs on existing council stock or to acquire lower-cost properties.
• Council leader Cllr Robert Morritt stated in September that his preference is to focus limited housing funds on maintaining existing housing stock rather than building new homes.
• The policy reverses a decision made by the previous Labour administration in 2022, which halted the sale of empty council houses to retain larger properties with gardens and ground-floor access.

Wandsworth (South London News) November 12, 2026 – Wandsworth Council plans to reinstate a policy of selling off its larger, more valuable council houses when they fall empty, rather than reletting them to families on the borough’s social housing waiting list.

What does the Conservative council plan for empty family homes?

Under the proposals put forward by the Conservative administration, which won back control of Wandsworth Council in May, the local authority will place its most valuable vacant properties on the open market. These properties are situated on ordinary streets across the borough and consist primarily of family houses, many of which feature private gardens.

At present, when a tenant moves away, enters residential care, or dies without an eligible successor to take over the tenancy, the property becomes vacant and is relet to the next eligible household on the housing register. Under the new approach, high-value properties falling empty will instead be sold. Funds generated from these sales could be directed toward repairing the council’s remaining housing stock or purchasing cheaper properties elsewhere.

How severe is the housing waiting list in Wandsworth?

The proposed shift in policy comes amid significant demand for social housing within the south-west London borough. Approximately 13,000 households are currently waiting for a council home in Wandsworth.

Data regarding families living in temporary accommodation indicates a particular shortage of larger properties. Of the households currently placed in temporary housing, 1,213 require a home with three bedrooms or more. Last year, housing charities calculated that a Wandsworth family in need of a council property of that size faces an estimated wait of 82 years.

Why is Council Leader Robert Morritt prioritising existing housing stock?

Addressing councillors in September, the leader of Wandsworth Council, Cllr Robert Morritt, outlined the financial constraints facing the authority’s housing budget, noting that there is only a finite amount of money available for housing initiatives.

When presented with the choice between constructing new properties and maintaining the council’s current homes, Cllr Robert Morritt stated:

“My preference will unashamedly be that we focus on existing stock”.

During the same September meeting, Cllr Morritt also shared his personal connection to council housing, explaining that his parents had purchased their first home through the Right to Buy scheme. Speaking to fellow councillors, he said:

“It provided my parents and their two small boys, me and my brother, with a springboard to a better life”.

What is the background of council house sales in Wandsworth?

Selling vacant council properties is a long-standing approach for the Conservative group in Wandsworth. The practice served as official council policy from the 1980s until May 2022, when the Labour Party took control of the authority and brought the sales to a halt.

At the time of the 2022 policy reversal, Cllr Aydin Dikerdem served as Labour’s cabinet member for housing. Explaining the decision to cease selling empty properties, Cllr Aydin Dikerdem stated that the council would “hold on to quality, larger houses with gardens or ground floor access, which typically meets the needs of larger families, or individuals with specific health requirements”.

Emphasising the social utility of the properties over their market price, Cllr Dikerdem added:

“We believe that the value of a house as an asset is as important as its financial worth”.

How could this development affect residents on the housing waiting list?

If implemented, the return to selling high-value vacant homes will directly reduce the supply of larger, street-level family houses available for reletting in Wandsworth. For the 1,213 families currently in temporary accommodation who require three or more bedrooms, as well as the wider 13,000 households on the waiting list, the removal of these properties from the social housing pool may further extend waiting times for larger family-sized homes with gardens or ground-floor access. Conversely, existing council tenants living in properties requiring maintenance could see increased investment in repairs and upgrades if capital receipts from the sales are successfully redirected into the existing housing stock, or if the council uses the proceeds to acquire a greater number of lower-cost properties.