Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will list the current number of homes that have been empty for one year in each local authority in England.

The number of homes vacant for more than six months is now at its lowest level since records began, with over 116,000 long term empty properties brought back in to use since 2009.

Information is not collected on homes that have been empty for one year. Annual summary data are available, however, on the total dwellings classed as vacant for council tax purposes and, of those, the number that have been vacant for more than 6 months.

Local authority level data as at 3 October 2016 can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/587691/LA_Drop_down_-_revised_Jan.xlsx

The Government is committed to bringing empty properties into use - that is why we have given local authorities the powers to charge up to 100 per cent council tax on empty homes. In addition, a premium of up to 50 per cent extra council tax may be charged on properties that have been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for two years or more. These powers form part of a wider package of initiatives and measures to tackle empty homes.