A quarter affected by 'empty homes'

Further to research issued during Empty Homes Action Week, Halifax - the UK's number one mortgage lender - identifies the true impact of empty homes. Halifax calls on the government to take further action to help renovate and re-introduce empty homes into England's housing stock.

One in four people (27 per cent) have lived on the same street as an empty home and 22 per cent of these claim the presence of the empty home has had a negative impact on the value of property and the enjoyment of the street, new research from Halifax reveals.

The mortgage provider said that a quarter of respondents felt that the presence of an empty home in their street had a negative impact on potential buyer's perceptions of the area.

It adds that 26 per cent of people would be put off buying a property if there was an empty home on the street.

Jaedon Green, head of mortgage product development at Halifax, commented: "The number of empty homes in England has fallen by nearly 20,000 over the past three years but more needs to be done. One in four people continue to be directly affected by an empty house which they believe has a negative impact on the value of property, their enjoyment of the area and levels of crime.

"Halifax calls on the government to extend existing VAT and council tax discounts to encourage the renovation of empty houses, thus making them homes."

A fifth of respondents felt that the presence of an empty home in their street attracted crime.



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