Thousands of homes are empty in Kirklees

Mar 12 2010 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THOUSANDS of homes are lying empty across Kirklees.

New figures from the council show there are 4,481 vacant private sector properties across the district.

All the homes have been empty for at least six months.

A council spokesman said vacant houses – which make up 2.8% of all homes in Kirklees – were a problem.

He said: “Empty homes are a wasted resource in a climate of acute housing need.

“Bringing them back into use is very important to the council as it lessens the pressure on the housing register.

“Empty properties, particularly those in a poor condition, can affect the value of other properties, make the area less attractive to investors or potential residents and become a focal point for anti-social behaviour.

“Empty homes can also be a drain on public sector resources, including through greater demand on the police and fire service.”

The spokesman added that Kirklees is trying to reduce the number of empty homes.