Petition · past parliament
Make access to habitable shelter a protected and inalienable human right
Closed
1,988 signatures
What the petition asks
The homeless crisis in the UK is not caused by a lack of housing, but by access to housing being denied to homeless people.
We demand that access to habitable shelter be recognised as a human right, so that action can be taken to end homelessness immediately - with no one left out.
We demand that access to habitable shelter be recognised as a human right, so that action can be taken to end homelessness immediately - with no one left out.
According to Shelter, over 300,000 people are homeless in the UK - in temporary accommodation, sleeping on the streets or in cars.
There are over 200,000 long-term empty homes in the UK (www.emptyhomes.com/assets/2017-10-17-empty-homes-press-release.pdf).
Even with just 2 bedrooms per home, that's enough to house everyone and end homelessness immediately.
However, since the right to own empty properties and second homes beats other people's rights to a home, access to those homes is denied.
There are over 200,000 long-term empty homes in the UK (www.emptyhomes.com/assets/2017-10-17-empty-homes-press-release.pdf).
Even with just 2 bedrooms per home, that's enough to house everyone and end homelessness immediately.
However, since the right to own empty properties and second homes beats other people's rights to a home, access to those homes is denied.
Timeline
| 22 Jan 2018 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 22 Jul 2018 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
1,988
Status
Closed
Opened
22 Jan 2018
Closed
22 Jul 2018
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.