From desk space to living space: nearly 20,000 homes added as commercial buildings turn residential

As 68% of the latest permitted-development applications for residential change of use get the go-ahead, Moving Compared says converting underused commercial space can give buyers more choice – but the office-to-home boom brings a different legal and structural checklist

• 17,710 homes were added to England’s housing stock through changes of use from non-domestic to residential property in 2024-25, accounting for around 8% of all net additions

• Office vacancy across the UK’s ten largest regional cities stood at 11% in 2026, compared with just 3% for Grade A space

• Moving Compared says bringing underused commercial buildings back into use can increase choice for buyers, but a newly converted home can still carry decades of commercial legal and structural history

Britain’s office shake-up is increasingly becoming a housing opportunity, with thousands of homes being created from buildings once used for work rather than living. Repurposing underused commercial space can increase housing choice without waiting for entirely new developments, while bringing homes into established town and city locations. That opportunity is becoming more relevant as demand concentrates around higher-quality workspace. Knight Frank reported an 11% office vacancy rate across the UK’s ten largest regional cities in August 2026, compared with just 3% for Grade A space, leaving some older or less competitive buildings facing a different future.

Official figures show 17,710 homes were added to England’s housing stock through non-domestic to residential conversions in 2024-25, accounting for around 8% of all net additions. The pipeline is continuing, with 700 permitted-development applications for residential conversions submitted between April and June 2026, 68% of which were approved.

Moving Compared, the UK home-moving hub helping buyers and sellers compare trusted conveyancers and surveyors, says the opportunity comes with an important caveat: changing a building’s use does not erase its history. A newly converted apartment can look like a new home while still carrying the planning history, structure, title arrangements and shared responsibilities of the older commercial building beneath it.

BEFORE YOU BUY THE BOARDROOM: CHECK HOW IT BECAME A HOME

Commercial conversions can follow different planning routes, from full permission to permitted development under Class MA, where prior approval may consider issues such as transport, contamination, flooding, noise and natural light. For buyers, the key question is which route their building took and whether the necessary permissions are in place. A conveyancer can review the planning, title and approval history before exchange, helping identify issues while there is still time to act on them.

MIXED-USE CAN MEAN MIXED RESPONSIBILITIES

An office conversion does not always mean the entire building has become residential, and buyers may find themselves living above or alongside shops, restaurants or offices. That can make the lease particularly important, as it sets out rights and responsibilities around common areas, insurance, service charges and maintenance of the wider building.

The Law Society advises leasehold buyers to understand these arrangements, including any building-safety considerations affecting flats. For buyers in converted commercial buildings, establishing what service charges cover, how major works are handled and which areas remain in commercial use is therefore essential before becoming legally committed.

NEW KITCHEN, OLD BONES: DON’T LET THE FINISH HIDE THE BUILDING

Commercial conversions can create striking homes, but buyers should distinguish between a new apartment fit-out and the age of the structure around it. Fresh kitchens, flooring and bathrooms may sit within a building that is decades old and has undergone substantial alteration for residential use.

That makes the property’s age, construction and conversion history important when deciding what level of survey is appropriate. Comparing surveyors before exchange can help buyers choose an inspection suited to the building rather than treating a newly finished apartment like a conventional new-build.

FROM BOARDROOM TO BEDROOM: MAKE SURE THE LENDER IS COMFORTABLE TOO

Buyers should establish the mortgage position early, as former commercial use does not automatically make a property unmortgageable but can introduce features a lender will want to assess, particularly in mixed-use developments or where construction, title or lease arrangements are unusual. The Law Society’s Conveyancing Protocol reflects the overlap between the legal and lending sides of a transaction, with conveyancers often acting for both buyer and lender, so resolving these questions early can reduce the risk of additional information or investigation being required once the purchase is already well advanced.

CHECK THE PAPERWORK BEFORE YOU CLOCK OFF

With England adding 17,710 homes through non-domestic-to-residential changes of use in just one year, repurposing suitable commercial buildings is already making a measurable contribution to housing supply at a time when increasing the number of available homes remains a major national challenge.

As more of these properties enter the mainstream housing market, it becomes more important for consumers to understand that “new to residential” does not necessarily mean “new building.” Before exchanging on a former commercial property, Moving Compared says buyers should establish how residential use was authorised, what the title and lease require, whether parts of the development remain commercial, what condition the underlying building is in and whether anything about the property requires additional consideration from their mortgage lender.

More converted homes can increase housing choice, but buyers still need to understand the legal and physical history behind them. Moving Compared helps buyers compare trusted conveyancing and surveying professionals before exchange, reducing the risk of costly surprises later.

About Moving Compared
Moving Compared is the UK’s leading home moving hub, helping buyers, sellers and movers compare quotes from trusted professionals across conveyancing and surveying. Built to make the moving process clearer and less stressful, Moving Compared connects users with vetted, reviewed and rated partners, giving movers a simple way to compare services, understand costs and choose the right professionals for their move.

The platform brings conveyancing and surveying into one place, helping users save time, reduce uncertainty and avoid last-minute cost surprises during one of the most expensive and complex moments in the property journey. For more guidance, movers can also use Moving Compared’s moving costs guide.