Empty Spaces Resources
This section is your comprehensive source for materials and tools related to the Empty Spaces to Homes project. Here, you will find a curated collection of resources, including guides, reports, studies, and other valuable materials that support the project’s mission of transforming unused spaces into homes.
Whether you are looking for detailed information, practical tools, or inspiration to contribute to this initiative, the Resources page is designed to provide everything you need. Explore and utilize these materials to better understand and engage with the project’s goals and impact.
Demonstration Builds
Demonstration Builds showcase on the ground how unused spaces can become energy-efficient, affordable housing units, addressing critical issues such as housing affordability, homelessness and overcrowding. Part of this activity is to measure of how much carbon dioxide will be saved by repurposing instead of building anew.
Research papers
Repurposing Empty Spaces: Addressing the Housing Crisis Across England, Scotland and Wales (2025)
A new research explores the growing potential of vacant non-residential buildings across Great Britain to address housing need. The report analyses rising commercial vacancy—particularly in publicly owned assets—and highlights how repurposing empty buildings can deliver social and genuinely affordable homes while supporting climate goals, reducing public costs, and revitalising communities.
Turning Vacant Spaces into Social Housing in Poland (2025)
A new research examines how unused non-residential buildings across Poland—such as schools, offices, and industrial sites—could be adapted into affordable and social housing. By mapping vacancy and analysing legal, financial, and governance barriers, the report outlines how adaptive reuse can provide a faster, greener, and more inclusive alternative to new construction.
How Hungary’s Empty Spaces Could Become the Future of Affordable Housing (2025)
A new research analyses Hungary’s housing landscape, highlighting the stark contrast between widespread housing poverty and a large number of vacant and underused buildings. The report explores how repurposing empty residential and non-residential spaces—through targeted financing tools, updated regulations, and cross-sector partnerships—could expand affordable housing and support a more inclusive, sustainable housing system.
Unlocking the Potential of Empty Spaces in Croatia (2025)
A new research explores Croatia’s housing paradox, where rising housing costs and limited access to affordable rentals coexist with a high share of vacant homes. The report examines how repurposing underused residential properties—supported by stronger regulation, policy alignment, and lessons from international practice—could expand affordable housing and help build more inclusive, sustainable cities.
Review Report of Existing Methodologies and Requirements Related to Life-Cycle Assessment Carbon Footprint and Construction Sector (January, 2025)
A new research reviews key methodologies and standards for life-cycle carbon assessments (LCA) in building renovation, identifying best practices and gaps. The findings will inform a new, accessible methodology that prioritizes whole-life carbon reduction, circular economy principles, and practical tools for sustainable decision-making.
Policy papers
The Housing Paradox Surplus and Shortage Policy Brief by Habitat for Humanity Europe and the Middle East (November 2025)
The policy brief highlights Europe’s housing paradox: rising unaffordability despite millions of vacant buildings. The report argues that adapting existing residential and non-residential spaces offers a faster, greener alternative to new construction, and calls for stronger EU coordination, better vacancy data, and targeted incentives to turn empty properties into affordable homes.
Vacant Building Conversion in Europe A Policy Brief from Habitat for Humanity Europe and the Middle East on Affordable Housing Plan (October 2025)
The policy brief shows how converting vacant residential, commercial, and public buildings can tackle Europe’s housing crisis. Rather than focusing only on new supply, the report highlights reuse as a faster, lower-carbon solution and calls for stronger EU coordination, better data, and targeted investment to turn empty spaces into affordable homes.
Position Paper on Europe Affordable Housing Plan by Habitat for Humanity Europe and the Middle East (June 2025)
The position paper highlights the untapped potential of vacant residential and commercial buildings to tackle Europe’s housing crisis. With millions of empty properties across the EU, repurposing existing spaces can deliver affordable, low-carbon homes faster than new builds. The brief calls for coordinated EU action to unlock this potential.
Toolkits
Great Britain 2023
Based on insights from extensive research and case studies in Great Britain, our Empty Spaces to Homes Toolkit provides guidance on developing and delivering empty spaces programmes that are translatable and adaptable for a variety of markets.
Poland 2022
The toolkit, available in Polish and English, was created primarily to describe in a practical way the basic aspects of the process of adapting vacant properties to affordable housing based on the insights gathered in Poland in 2022.
