Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) is proud to support World Vacant Homes Day; a new international awareness initiative focused on bringing vacant and derelict homes back into use. Having taken place for the first time on 8th October 2025, the day shone a spotlight on the global challenge of long-term vacant residential properties, and the opportunities they offer for boosting housing supply, regenerating communities, and promoting sustainable development.
Why a World Vacant Homes Day?
Vacant housing is a shared challenge across many nations. In Ireland alone, the 2022 Census recorded 163,433 vacant homes. Even returning a fraction of these to use could make a meaningful difference to housing availability.
Globally, the figures are even more striking:
– Japan: over 8.5 million vacant homes
– United States: around 14.9 million vacant or underused dwellings.
As the representative body for Ireland’s hardware and building materials sector, HAI knows the vital role our industry plays in enabling reuse and refurbishment. Every empty home brought back into use requires skilled tradespeople, quality building materials, tools, and advice – all of which our members are pleased to assist with.
By dedicating one day each year to this issue, World Vacant Homes Day aims to:
– Raise public awareness and understanding
– Encourage collaborative, cross-border solutions
– Support national and local regeneration goals
– Inspire practical action from governments, communities, industry, and individuals
Why 8th October?
The date was chosen to align symbolically with other global observances and housing conversations:
– Falls within Urban October, UN-Habitat’s month-long campaign on sustainable urban development
– Close to World Habitat Day (first Monday in October)
– Positioned between World Cotton Day (7th) and World Post Day (9th), ensuring visibility
This timing ensures the campaign benefits from the heightened global focus on housing rights, inclusion, and sustainable development during October.
How the Day Will Be Marked
World Vacant Homes Day will be driven by international partnerships, bringing together Empty Homes Networks, housing bodies, NGOs, communities, and industry stakeholders.
Activities will include:
– Shared resources and media campaigns
– Political, community, and social outreach
– Case studies showcasing successful vacant home reuse
– Events to highlight the scale and impact of vacancy across nations.
A Global Call to Action
World Vacant Homes Day invites governments, councils, housing professionals, retailers, and community members to work together in tackling vacancy.
For Hardware Association Ireland, supporting this initiative reflects our ambition and mission: to enable vibrant, sustainable communities by ensuring that homes can be repaired, refurbished, and returned to use. By equipping people with the right tools, materials, and expertise, our members are central to making this change possible.
With coordinated effort, we can transform underused housing into thriving homes and vibrant neighbourhoods.
We look forward to supporting this global movement and working with partners to help transform underused housing into thriving homes and vibrant communities.
Further details will be announced shortly. Please contact Tom Gilligan tgilligan@mayococo.ie if you wish to get involved.
#WorldVacantHomesDay
