It has been estimated that up to 34,000 council properties in England remain vacant due to rising refurbishment costs and funding shortfall (according to Sky News).
Freya Chapman, Residential Lead at ground engineering firm Mainmark explains that subsidence, where the ground beneath a property sinks, causes structural damage and safety concerns, which leads to local authorities vacating social housing as a matter of urgency. Freya explains that leaving social housing empty for a long period of time is “forcing people into substandard living conditions” and “exacerbating the housing crisis”.
Complaints about living conditions in social housing in England have soared in recent years, according to the Housing Ombudsman, who warned that without change, the country risks the “managed decline” in social housing. While unliveable conditions are fuelling these complaints, the increasing number of vacant social housing across England is exacerbating the crisis, forcing people to take residence in ageing, decrepit homes.
Freya said: “When subsidence is found in social housing, the first port of call for a local authority is to vacate to property, redirecting residents into alternative accommodation. If this accommodation was fit for purpose, there would be less of an issue.
“However, as we’re learning more often, much of our social housing is afflicted by serious health and safety issues like overcrowding, asbestos, black mould and pest control. It’s important, then, to readdress the issues with the empty properties so that we can improve the standard of living for people in need.”
To drive improvement in this area Mainmark UK is bringing its knowledge to a leading public sector event.
Freya continued: “Due to financial shortfalls, thousands of properties are left empty with the subsidence issues worsening and becoming increasingly more expensive (and hazardous) to fix. If local authorities can secure the funding and react quickly to these structural problems, the property need not be vacated at all.”
Alongside advocating for better funding, Mainmark is actively engaging with local authorities, including through its presence at this expo, to promote awareness and practical solutions. This, it says, is the key to keeping repair costs and disruption to a minimum.
Freya continued: “It can take many years to impact a structure, and visible signs are often small and easy to miss. By exhibiting at this leading sector event, we’re seizing the opportunity to lead discussions on structural challenges, spark meaningful conversations, and support local authorities across the UK in identifying, monitoring, and addressing signs of subsidence – such as wall cracks, sloping floors, and sticking doors or windows.
“In most cases, subsidence can be fixed quickly and cost-effectively using resin injection, where a geopolymer fills voids beneath a property without major excavation. More complex cases, such as apartment blocks, may require computer-controlled grouting, but both methods minimise disruption and help bring homes back into use. With better resource management and targeted funding, councils can address subsidence efficiently and improve living conditions.”
This is one of the topics which will be discussed at The Local Government Procurement Expo, in London in November, which brings together leaders and local authorities from the UK’s public sector. The showcase includes a mix of skill development zones, speaker sessions and panels, product showcases and networking opportunities. Mainmark UK’s team of advisors will showcase the company’s expertise, discuss practical solutions, and support visitors dealing with subsidence — a challenge that is particularly pressing for social housing.
Freya is one of only a few female subsidence experts in Europe, with more than a decade of experience in geotechnical ground improvement for residential buildings. A member of the Subsidence Forum Committee, she is encouraging better collaboration between industry professionals and local authorities to tackle issues exacerbating the housing crisis.
Mainmark Ground Engineering (UK) Ltd is a subsidiary of the Mainmark group of companies, established in 2016.
