Haringey Council is set to invest £1.7 million in bringing empty homes back into use, addressing structural deficiencies and increasing the availability of social housing in the borough.
The decision was made at a Cabinet Member Signing meeting on Thursday, 16 October 2025, where Councillor Sarah Williams, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader), approved contracts for two phases of an extensive voids programme. The initiative aims to refurbish properties that have remained unoccupied due to significant structural issues, safety concerns, and compliance requirements. According to the Extensive Voids Phase 1 Main Report, not addressing these issues would result in a failure to meet current housing standards, a loss of potential housing supply, and additional strain on temporary accommodation resources.
The Extensive Voids Programme is divided into two phases. Phase 1 will see an investment of £653,684.47 to refurbish five properties: 137 Gladstone Avenue, 73 Salisbury Road, 35 Summerhill Road, 9 Wakefield Road, and 168/168a Gladstone Avenue. According to the meeting reports, all properties except 168 Gladstone Avenue have remained vacant due to serious structural, safety, and compliance concerns. The planned refurbishment works will address these issues and return the homes to active use. The projected timeline for Phase 1 includes a handover by March 2026 and an end of defects and final sign-off by March 2027.
Phase 2 of the programme involves an investment of £1,030,581.00 to refurbish five additional properties: 77 Inderwick Road, 12 Belmont Road, 79 Cavendish Road, 150 The Roundway and 26 Hanover. Two of these properties, 77 Inderwick Road and 79 Cavendish Road, will undergo loft conversions to increase the number of bedrooms, better aligning the housing stock with local demand. The handover for Phase 2 is projected for July 2026, with the end of defects and final sign-off by July 2027.
The works for both phases will include:
- Roof Repairs and Replacements
- External masonry repairs
- External redecorations
- Structural repairs and making good
- Window repairs/replacements
- Overhauls to the gardens and grounds
- Kitchen and bathroom replacements
- Full electrical re-wires
- Drainage scans and repairs
- Boiler replacements
- Internal redecorations
For Phase 2, the works will also include:
- Extension works to increase living and habitable space
- Reconfiguration of internal layouts to accommodate additional bedrooms
- Foundation strengthening and structural modifications to support extensions
- Upgrades to heating, plumbing, and electrical systems to support increased Capacity
The council says that these projects align with its Housing Asset Management Strategy (2023–2028) and the Corporate Delivery Plan (2023/24), supporting the Housing Strategy and ensuring all council homes meet the Decent Homes Standard by 2028.
