- New study has found that 605,891 homes were unoccupied last year.
- Liverpool has the biggest problem with vacant homes, with over 10,000 homes remaining empty in 2017.
- A third of empty homes throughout the country are empty for longer than six months.
A new study has revealed the shocking extent of England’s empty homes crisis, with more than 600,000 homes remaining vacant.
The study, conducted by Good Move, has found that a third of empty homes are classed as long-term vacant, after being empty for more than six months.
The city of Liverpool takes the crown for the most vacant properties, with a staggering 10,512 properties laying empty last year. The data comes despite efforts by Liverpool City Council to reduce the amount of vacant homes with a free matchmaking service to introduce buyers and sellers of empty homes, in a bid to bring more empty homes into use.
Birmingham follows closely behind, with 10,386 empty homes. The city famous for its Bullring accounts for 17% of West Midlands’ total number of vacant homes.
The Yorkshire city of Leeds has the third highest number of empty homes throughout the country, with 10,263 properties vacant. Leeds’ empty homes equates to 14% of Yorkshire and the Humber’s empty homes.
The North West has the most vacant properties, with 102,847 homes laying empty across the region, and 38% of those being vacant for longer than six months. Liverpool has the most empty homes in the North West, and the country as a whole, with 10,512 vacant properties in 2017.
Following closely behind the North West is the South East, with a staggering 86,693 vacant properties last year. Of the 86,000 empty homes, 29% of those are vacant for longer than six months.
The top five cities with the highest number of empty homes are:
| City | Number of vacant homes (2017) | As a % of all housing |
| Liverpool | 10,512 | 4.70% |
| Birmingham | 10,386 | 2.40% |
| Leeds | 10,263 | 3.00% |
| Durham | 10,026 | 4.20% |
| Bradford | 8,751 | 4.10% |
England regions by number of vacant homes:
| Region | Number of vacant homes (2017) | As a % of all housing | Long-term vacant* |
| North East | 43,617 | 3.60% | 17,106 |
| North West | 102,847 | 3.20% | 39,344 |
| Yorkshire & The Humber | 73,728 | 3.10% | 27,009 |
| East Midlands | 52,562 | 2.60% | 18,553 |
| West Midlands | 62,919 | 2.60% | 20,996 |
| East of England | 58,831 | 2.20% | 17,983 |
| London | 62,366 | 1.80% | 20,237 |
| South East | 86,693 | 2.20% | 25,378 |
| South West | 62,328 | 2.50% | 18,687 |
