Given that demand is growing for properties across the country, it is disappointing to think that a significant number of homes in England are currently lying empty, rather than sitting on your firm’s books, with a view to being sold, let or managed.
The latest data reveals that there are currently more than 640,000 vacant dwellings in England which account for 2.65% of all residential properties. But where in the country are the most properties sitting empty?
Coulters estate agents in Edinburgh have undertaken research using Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government data to discover the areas with the highest percentage of vacant homes and reveal the UK’s empty home hotspots.
According to the research, the majority of areas with the highest percentage of vacant homes are found in the North West of England, with Blackpool having a higher rate of empty properties than anywhere else.
The study also revealed that half of the top 10 empty home hotspots are located by the coast, in arears including Blackpool, Barrow-in-Furness, Hartlepool, Liverpool, and Fylde.
|
Rank |
Local Authority |
Vacant Dwellings |
% of Vacant Dwellings |
|
1 |
Blackpool |
3,842 |
5.47% |
|
2 |
Burnley |
2,089 |
5.09% |
|
3 |
City of London |
311 |
4.78% |
|
4 |
Barrow-in-Furness |
1,575 |
4.70% |
|
5 |
Hartlepool |
2,078 |
4.70% |
|
6 |
Liverpool |
10,704 |
4.67% |
|
7 |
Southwark |
6,303 |
4.63% |
|
8 |
Hyndburn |
1,660 |
4.50% |
|
9 |
Blackburn with Darwen |
2,717 |
4.43% |
|
10 |
Fylde |
1,751 |
4.40% |
Corby in Northamptonshire has the lowest percentage of vacant dwellings, with other areas in the Midlands, such as Daventry, Solihull and Herefordshire, in the top 10.
The majority of areas with the lowest proportion of empty houses were found in London.
|
Rank |
Local Authority |
Vacant Dwellings |
% of Vacant Dwellings |
|
1 |
Corby |
135 |
0.45% |
|
2 |
Wandsworth |
804 |
0.54% |
|
3 |
Hammersmith and Fulham |
659 |
0.74% |
|
4 |
Westminster |
988 |
0.79% |
|
5 |
Daventry |
392 |
1.08% |
|
6 |
Barking and Dagenham |
921 |
1.21% |
|
7 |
Solihull |
1199 |
1.30% |
|
8 |
Lambeth |
1849 |
1.31% |
|
9 |
Herefordshire, County of |
1,136 |
1.32% |
|
10 |
Brent |
1,662 |
1.38% |
All the Govt ( AND Local Authorities ) need to do, is to make it financially viable for landlords in Blackpool and Burnley to bring these homes back into use, and transfer people from High-cost Metropolitan area’s that are on the Homelessness list to these areas. In fact, while they’re at it, make renting everywhere more appealing and landlords will provide the quality properties. Increase Taxation, regulation and red tape, and properties will become more expensive and in short supply ( Its Not ‘ Rocket-Science ‘ ! )
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