Mortgage provider Halifax highlights 'substantial' housing problem

Date:Tuesday 21st December 2010
Author: Max Freedman

Mortgage provider Halifax has noted that empty homes are still a "substantial" issue in some areas of the country.

The firm unveiled its latest Empty Homes Survey this week and indicated that the number of properties classified as long-term unused has dropped for the first time in three years.

Suren Thiru, housing economist at the organisation, described how he is pleased with the figures, but stressed there is plenty of work to be done as many areas with poor employment figures and lower house prices still suffer from this problem.

He added: "It is encouraging that the number of long-term empty private homes has fallen, reversing the increases recorded over the preceding two years."

The Halifax report showed that the number of houses that have been empty for more than six months fell by six per cent from 2009 to 2010.

In Scotland, this figure has grown for the second year in succession to reach its highest level since 2003.