In addressing the housing crisis, campaigners would now want to see empty and run-down properties regenerated as reported on BBC. A very recent study reveals that empty properties are being concentrated in Northern England, most especially in areas that have lower than average house prices, but higher levels of deprivation.
As cited in an article on Conservatives.com, Britain has been experiencing a tenacious deficit in providing affordable housing since 1997. A failure to deliver adequate housing for social rent has been a problem since the mid 90's. "Less new social rent housing has been built in every year under Labor (1997-2007) than in any year under the whole of the previous Conservative administration (1979-1997)."
According to the Institute for Public Policy North, almost a quarter of a million vacant houses could be used again, provided that councils levy taxes on these homes which are left vacant for more than a year as reported on Public Finance. As it launched a mock party election broadcast for a Bricks & Mortar Party, the think-tank said that "218,000 long-term empty homes (those unoccupied for more than six months) should be brought back into use."
As cited in a news article on Public Finance, research fellow Bill Davies argued: "Letting local government decide their own taxes and funding programs for empty homes, and halving the period before empty home taxes can be levied to 12 months, would help ease the housing crisis."
Davies even went further in his statement and said that it was "totally unacceptable that nearly a quarter of a million properties stand empty when 1.4 million people stuck on housing waiting lists, and homelessness is rising."
With a much better tax and funding system, Davies believed that homes can be easily brought onto the market, and then "encourage those holding empty properties to fund the costs of those who don't have a place to call home."
