Number of Empty Homes at its Lowest

Figures released by the Government yesterday shows that the number of empty homes is now at its lowest level since records began.

A Housing statistical release by The Department for Communities and Local Government on Dwelling Stock Estimates 2015 England.

There were 23.5 million dwellings in England at 31 March 2015, an increase of 171,000 dwellings (0.73%) on the same point the previous year.

14.7 million dwellings were owner occupied dwellings, 4.7 million private rented dwellings and 4.0 million social and affordable rented dwellings (Private Registered Providers plus Local Authority).

Between March 2014 and March 2015, the private rented dwelling stock increased by 125,000 and the owner occupied stock increased by 37,000. The social and affordable rented stock increased by 19,000 dwellings and the other public sector stock decreased by 9,000 dwellings.

There were 600,179 vacant dwellings in England on 5 October 2015, a decrease of 9,944 (1.6%) from 610,123 on 6 October 2014

Long – term vacant dwellings numbered 203,596 on 5 October
2015, a fall of 2,225 (1.1%) from 205,821 on 6 October2014.

These figures showed show an increase in the number of owner-occupied homes in the past year, after seven years of decline, starting in 2007.

The government has introduced a number of measures to get homes back into use that have stood empty for years.

Read the full report on the Gov.UK website click here

 

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Letting Agent Talk

Letting Agency Owners: Are You the Bottleneck in Your Business?

As a letting agency owner, it’s easy to fall into the trap of wearing too many hats. But it’s not just exhaustion and burnout you need to worry about – it’s the impact it’s having on your bottom-line. Guest Blog By Sally Lawson – Agent Rainmaker “From managing client relationships and handling operations, to overseeing…
Read More
Breaking News

Latest developments in Renters’ Rights Bill: What landlords need to know

On the brink of becoming law, the Government last week rejected the majority of amendments put forward by the House of Lords, which would have mitigated the severity of some of the amendments. Property professionals, landlords and tenants are poised to navigate this once-in-a-generation overhaul of housing legislation.   Lucy Jones, Chief Operating Officer at…
Read More
Breaking News

What Will Commonhold Mean for Property Managers?

By Robert Poole, Director – Block Management, Glide Property Management, part of LRG The government’s ambition to end leasehold for most residential properties has put commonhold back into the spotlight. First introduced in 2002, commonhold offered a resident-led alternative to traditional leasehold ownership. However, legal and commercial complexity stalled adoption. Two decades later, policymakers are…
Read More
Breaking News

Think You Know Mortgages? These 5 Myths Could Be Costing You Money

When it comes to mortgages, most of us have had advice from family and friends. The trouble is, a lot of these so-called facts are myths, with many individuals missing out on better deals or opportunities, due to not doing their own due diligence. Emma Graham, Business Development Director at Hodge Bank, explained: “Mortgages are…
Read More
Breaking News

Just 17% of homes selling for more than £500k

The latest analysis by eXp UK has revealed that while just 17.4% of homes sold across England and Wales so far this year achieved a price of £500,000 or more, agents in London, the South East, and the East of England will face the greatest need to adapt should the Government press ahead with plans…
Read More
Breaking News

Estate agents back Rachel Reeves’ stamp duty shake-up but call for abolition without replacement tax

The latest research from GetAgent has revealed that the majority of estate agents in England are supportive of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ plans to overhaul property taxation by scrapping Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). However, 44% argue that the new levy should be focused only on higher-value homes, while 79% favour abolishing SDLT outright without introducing…
Read More