UK Empty Properties Up By 1.8% In 2011

Despite campaigns from all quarters of the media and industry bodies, the number of empty homes in the UK increased significantly in 2011, new research has shown.

Data from the Communities and Local Government department, (CLG),the Office for National Statistics, (ONS), and Halifax’s own housing statistics database, the study revealed a 1.8% rise in empty residential dwellings.

According to the Halifax Empty Homes survey, which takes into account all private and public empty residential 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 6 months, dropping to the lowest levels since 2008.

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

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

Stephen Noakes, Mortgage Director at Halifax,(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. Long-term empty homes account for about 1.6% 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.”

The issue of empty homes that are fit for purpose remains a particular problem in a number of areas across the UK, where the proportion of void occupancy is double the national average. Even the UK’s Private Rented Sector is not unaffected. Landlords with properties requiring substantial improvements are lying empty due to the current lack of available finance.

UK property owners and landlords are reminded that they should have appropriate insurance, in order to protect their property assets. However, that insurance may still be invalid if the property is unoccupied for a lengthy period of time (see the small print) and specialist insurance may be required.

Legal 4 Landlords offer Un occupied BTL insurance for Buy To Let Landlords with empty properties.