HC Deb 04 February 2002 vol 379 c732W
Ms Buck

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was(a) the actual and (b) percentage change in the number of council and RSL homes available to let between 1997–98 and 2000–01 in each local authority in London. [31851]

Ms Keeble

The number of properties owned by local authorities and registered social landlords which were reported as being vacant and available for letting in each London borough at the start of each year was as follows.

[Local authority and registered social landlord "management vacant"1 dwellings
As at end of year
1997–98 2000–01 Change Number change Percentage
Barking and Dagenham 510 382 -128 -25
Barnet 217 172 -45 -21
Bexley 187 73 -114 -61
Brent 270 188 -82 -30
Bromley 207 274 67 32
Camden 364 192 -172 -47
City of London 14 11 -3 -21
Croydon 256 201 -55 -21
Ealing 181 134 -47 -26
Enfield 243 178 -65 -27
Greenwich 437 204 -233 -53
Hackney 546 490 -56 -10
Hammersmith and Fulham 287 210 -77 -27
Haringey 369 184 -185 -50
Harrow 70 80 10 14
Havering 200 247 47 24
Hillingdon 122 119 -3 -2
Hounslow 160 129 -31 -19
Islington 770 290 -480 -62
Kensington and Chelsea 216 154 -62 -29
Kingston upon Thames 80 93 13 16
Lambeth 572 403 -169 -30
Lewisham 367 248 -119 -32
Merton 83 71 -12 -14
Newham 473 299 -174 -37
Redbridge 98 192 94 96
Richmond upon Thames 149 87 -62 -42
Southwark 601 408 -193 -32
Sutton 107 52 -55 -51
Tower Hamlets 479 399 -80 -17
Waltham Forest 283 206 -77 -27
Wandsworth 296 245 -51 -17
Westminster 354 196 -158 -45
London total 9,568 6,811 -2,757 -29
1 Management vacants are those available for letting immediately, or after completion of only minor repairs.

Source:

DTLR annual Housing Investment Programme and Housing Corporation RS returns

There will always be a certain level of empty properties for operational reasons, including those vacant for very short periods between tenants.