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Number of empty homes in England rises to more than 216,000 | Number of empty homes in England rises to more than 216,000 |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The number of empty homes across England has risen for the second consecutive year to more than 216,000, the highest level since 2012, according to official figures. | The number of empty homes across England has risen for the second consecutive year to more than 216,000, the highest level since 2012, according to official figures. |
The number of long-term vacant properties – those empty for at least six months – rose by 5.3% to 216,186 in the 12 months to October, according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. It is the highest level since 2012, when 254,059 properties were unoccupied. | |
The rise compares with a 2.6% increase the previous year – before that, the number of empty homes had fallen every year since 2008. | The rise compares with a 2.6% increase the previous year – before that, the number of empty homes had fallen every year since 2008. |
Analysis by modular home and school builder Project Etopia shows long-term vacant homes now account for £53.6bn of property in England. | Analysis by modular home and school builder Project Etopia shows long-term vacant homes now account for £53.6bn of property in England. |
Coastal towns and cities, led by Portsmouth, posted the biggest percentage rise in long-term empty homes: the number more than doubled to 939 in the year to October. | |
Hartlepool, in northern England, had the second-biggest rise, up 53.8% to 726, while Eastbourne, on the south coast, posted the third-largest increase, rising 48.4% to 518. | Hartlepool, in northern England, had the second-biggest rise, up 53.8% to 726, while Eastbourne, on the south coast, posted the third-largest increase, rising 48.4% to 518. |
The number of long-term empty homes in London has also gone up, by 11% to 22,481 – representing £10.7bn worth of property. | |
Outside the capital, Birmingham had the highest overall number in England, with 4,283 long-term vacant homes, up slightly from 4,280; followed by Durham with 4,130, Bradford with 4,090 and Liverpool with 3,889. However, in Durham and Liverpool the number of empty homes fell by 9% and 4.8% respectively. | Outside the capital, Birmingham had the highest overall number in England, with 4,283 long-term vacant homes, up slightly from 4,280; followed by Durham with 4,130, Bradford with 4,090 and Liverpool with 3,889. However, in Durham and Liverpool the number of empty homes fell by 9% and 4.8% respectively. |
The Project Etopia chief executive, Joseph Daniels, said: “The stubbornly high number of empty homes is compounding the housing market’s deeply entrenched problems with lack of supply remaining a key driver of high prices and low affordability. | The Project Etopia chief executive, Joseph Daniels, said: “The stubbornly high number of empty homes is compounding the housing market’s deeply entrenched problems with lack of supply remaining a key driver of high prices and low affordability. |
“New homes are not being built fast enough and the constant spectre of abandoned properties aggravates an already tough market.” | |
In London, Southwark, with 1,766 vacant properties, had the biggest number of empty homes. Croydon, to the south of the capital, had the second-highest number of long-term empty homes with 1,521, followed by Camden in the north, with 1,210. | |
Kit Malthouse, the housing minister, said: “Local authorities have a range of powers at their disposal to tackle long-term empty homes, and I expect them to make full use of these so everyone has a roof over their head. | |
“All local authorities in England have the power to charge homes that have been empty for at least two years an extra 50% on their council tax bill, and now from April, they can increase this to 100%.” | |
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