HC Deb 20 October 1999 vol 336 cc588-9W
Mr. Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many local government properties are currently unoccupied; [93672]

(2) how many houses were unoccupied at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many had been unoccupied for more than (a) six months and (b) 12 months. [93677]

Mr. Mullin

The latest available information shows that there were 753,200 dwellings in England vacant on 1 April 1998 of which 81,700 were local authority-owned. A level of vacancy is a usual feature of the stock,

Vacant dwellings at 1 April 1998
Total vacant Vacant more than 6 months and less than 12 months More than 12 months
Local Authority 81,700 10,600 16,000
Registered Social Landlords 29,300 4,100 4,800
Other Public Sector 19,000 not available not available
Other Private Sector 623,200 not available 220,100
Total Dwellings (all tenures) 753,200 not available not available

Source:

DETR Housing Investment Programme returns

Housing Corporation RSR forms