England's Empty Homes 'Reach Highest Level For Five Years'

The number of empty homes in England reached its highest level for five years during 2008. There was a 9% jump in the number of private homes that had been empty for at least six months during the year to April 2008 to 303,285 - the highest level since April 2003, according to high street bank Halifax. The group said the increase, which followed several years of decline, meant 1.6% of all privately owned properties in England were unoccupied. Once homes that had been empty for less than six months were included in the total, the figure more than doubled to 613,270. Find the full story on the 24dash website