Number Of Private Homes In England That Have Been Empty Long-Term Rises Above 300,000

The latest annual Halifax Empty Homes survey shows that the number of long-term empty private homes (i.e. homes that have been vacant for more than six months) exceeded 300,000 in 2008 for the first time in five years.

There were 303,285 long-term empty private homes in England in April 2008, a rise of 9% from 279,281 in April 2007. The number of long-term empty private homes is at its highest since April 2003 (308,438), accounting for 1.6% of all privately owned properties. The total number of empty private homes in England (i.e. including homes that have been vacant for less than six months) stood at 613,270 in April 2008, according to CLG figures.

There is a clear north/south divide. The North West has the highest number of long-term empty private homes (66,691), accounting for 22% of the total across England. The North West also has the highest number of long-term empty homes as a proportion of all private homes (2.6%) followed by Yorkshire and the Humber (2.2%) and the North East (2.1%). London, the South East and the South West have the lowest proportions of long-term empty private homes (all 1.1%).

Levels of deprivation are typically higher in areas with a large proportion of empty private homes. Fifteen of the 20 local authorities with the highest proportions of long-term empty private homes are among the 25% in England with the highest levels of deprivation.

Areas with relatively high levels of long-term empty private homes have lower than average earnings. Eighteen of the 20 local authorities where 3% or more of all private homes have been empty for at least six months have levels of average earnings that are below the national average. The levels of earnings in these locations are, on average, 24% below the national average. Additionally, six of the 10 local authorities with the highest proportion of long-term empty private homes have an unemployment rate that is above the national average.

Suren Thiru, economist at Halifax, commented:

"It is concerning that there are over 300,000 private homes in England that have been empty for more than six months and that the number has increased recently following several years of decline. In many cases, high levels of long-term empty homes reflect relatively high levels of deprivation, low average earnings and high unemployment."

Additional key findings

2003-2008

There was a 1.7% (5,153) fall in the number of long-term empty private homes over the five years between April 2003 and April 2008.

By region

Yorkshire and the Humber recorded the largest rise in long-term empty private homes over the past year

The number of long-term empty private homes in Yorkshire and the Humber rose by 13.5% over the twelve months to April 2008 (from 36,401 to 41,299); more than in any other region. All regions saw a rise during the period with the North East (2.3%) recording the smallest rise.

London experienced the largest fall in long-term empty private homes between 2003 and 2008

Between 2003 and 2008, the number of long-term empty private homes fell in three of the nine English regions. The largest fall was in London where the number fell by 34.7%. There were also falls in the South West (-18.2%) and the East of England (-4.4%). Yorkshire and the Humber saw the biggest rise (19.6%) over the period.

By local authority

Pendle has the highest proportion of long-term empty private homes in England

Pendle in Lancashire has the largest proportion of long-term empty private homes in England (5.9%). This is more than three and a half times the average for England (1.6%). Nine of the 20 areas with the highest proportion of long-term empty private homes are in the North West.

• Delicious
• Digg
• reddit
• Facebook
• StumbleUpon

Sign up for free news e-mailer

House price search

Enter your postcode here to find out how much your property is worth, based on Land Registry data.