The latest DCLG statistics for housing show that the number of empty homes is currently at its lowest since records began.
DCLG writes:
The number of empty homes is now at its lowest level since records began.
- reversal of downward trend in numbers of owner occupied households
- record drop in number of empty homes
New figures show that the number of empty homes is now at its lowest level since records began. This equates to a drop of over a third from 318,642 in 2004 to 203,596 in 2015.
Figures also show an increase in the number of owner-occupied homes in the past year, after 7 years of decline, starting in 2007.
The downward trend in ownership is continuing to level out after a fall from a peak of 69.5% in 2002 to 62.5% in 2015 and 62.8% in 2014.
And the government has got the country building again – with the number of new homes up by a quarter in the last year alone, the highest annual percentage increase in net additional homes for 28 years.
Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis said: ‘We are turning around the housing market and making sure the best use is made of all housing including empty homes. We are very clear that a house should be a home which is why we have taken action to stop homes being bought up and left as an empty investment.’
View the press release
