Empty home numbers in England 'on the up'

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 15:59:13 GMT

The total number of empty properties in England has risen 1.8 per cent in 2011.

The number of empty homes in England has increased significantly of late, new research has shown.

Based on data from the Communities and Local Government department, Office for National Statistics and Halifax's own housing statistics database, the study revealed a 1.8 per cent rise in such dwellings.

According to the Halifax Empty Homes survey, this number - which takes into account all private and public empty abodes, including those that have been vacant for under six months - leapt from the 650,127 recorded in April 2010 to 662,105 for the same period earlier this year.

Despite this trend, the study also revealed some more positive movement, with the amount of long-term empty private homes - those that have been without occupants for at least six months - dropping to its lowest level since 2008.

These properties account for 44 per cent of all empty residences, underlining the significance of the improvement.

It was shown that April 2011 saw 292,313 examples of this kind of home, which represented a 1.1 per cent decline on the 295,519 reported in the same four-week period 12 months earlier.

Stephen Noakes, mortgage director at Halifax - which is a division of Bank of Scotland - said the findings show the considerable impact empty properties can have on the overall housing market, claiming it is therefore necessary for action to be taken to address the issue.

The industry figure stated: "Long-term empty homes account for about 1.6 per cent of all private homes in England. And at a time when first-time buyers are still facing numerous obstacles to getting on the ladder, it is imperative we look further at the issue as an industry."

Martin Ellis, housing economist at the organisation, noted the issue of empty homes remains a particular problem for a number of areas, where the proportion of occupant-less is more than double the national average.

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