Void Council Properties

HC Deb 23 July 1999 vol 335 cc709-10W

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of council-owned properties in(a) Salisbury district, (b) North Dorset district, (c) New Forest district, (d) Kennet district and (e) Test Valley district were declared void in 1998. [91795]

Mr. Raynsford

As reported by them on their respective Housing Investment Programme (HIP) Operational Information returns, 2.7 per cent. of council-owned properties were vacant within Salisbury District Council area on 1 April 1998, 0.6 per cent. in New Forest and 0.5 per cent. in Test Valley. There is likely to be some variation in the proportion of dwellings that are vacant in a local authority from one date to another during the year.

North Dorset and Kennet District Councils no longer own residential properties, having transferred their housing stock to the private sector in 1994 and 1995 respectively.