Contact Us

Highlighting progress in the NorthWest Empty Homes Sector 2

  • Empty Homes North West
  • July 30, 2025

In the next few weeks we will be highlighting different councils that have made great progress/changes in their Empty Homes Departments.

This week; Wigan Council:

The team at Empty Homes North West are excited to read about the the progress Wigan Councils Empty Homes Team have made over the last few years.

Wigan is quietly leading a housing revolution.

Housing standards manager Neil Tonge is tackling the empty homes crisis
head-on—tracking down absentee owners, resolving family disputes, and
working with developers to turn neglected buildings into safe, affordable
homes.
In one year, the number of long-term empty homes in Wigan dropped by
almost 200—against the national trend of rising vacancy.

Meet the Man Behind the Mission: Neil Tonge

  • Neil Tonge, Housing Standards Manager at Wigan Council, is leading this work.
  • A former police officer and electrician, he uses investigative skills, persistence, and building knowledge.
  • He described empty homes as wasted resources—especially when so many are homeless.


“It’s frustrating homes are lying empty when so many
people don’t have one.” – Neil Tonge:

On-the-ground challenges:

  • Empty homes attract arson, drug use, youth break-ins, and antisocial behaviour.
  • Some are stalled by family disputes after inheritance.
  • Others are fronts for cannabis farms, falsely listed as occupied.
  • Tracing owners (sometimes abroad or through genealogy research).
  • Using Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) as a last resort.
  • Offering support and incentives to encourage voluntary renovation or sale.
“We get involved in family feuds. People aren’t afraid to tell you everything.” – Neil Tonge
We at Empty Homes North West are inspired by the tireless work of Wigan Council’s Empty Homes Team. Their mission to tackle long-term vacant properties is not only ambitious—it’s delivering real, measurable results. With nearly 200 fewer empty homes in just one year, Wigan is proving what can be achieved through determination, collaboration, and community focus. We hope to see many other councils follow their lead in putting empty homes back into use for the people who need them most.