Key Highlights :
The number of empty homes in Brighton and Hove has almost doubled in the last decade, according to new figures. The city has the second highest number of empty homes in the UK, after London.
The figures, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), show that there were 1,511 empty homes in the city in 2016, up from 707 in 2006. The city’s empty homes rate is now 2.8 per 1,000 population, compared to London’s 1.5.
The increase is likely to be due to the city’s growing population and low vacancy rates. In 2016, the city’s population was estimated to be 243,000, up from 202,000 in 2006. The vacancy rate was 0.5 per cent in 2016, down from 1.1 per cent in 2006.
The city’s high number of empty homes could be a problem for the local economy. Empty homes can be a drain on resources, including energy and water, and can also lead to crime and vandalism. They can also be a barrier to housing affordability, as they are often bought and used as investment properties.
The city’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, has called on the government to do more to help solve the problem. He has called on the government to set a target of reducing the city’s empty homes rate to zero by 2040.
The city’s housing crisis is likely to continue into the future, as the city’s population is expected to grow by another 50,000 by 2021. The city’s mayor has said that the city needs to build at least 100,000 new homes over the next decade to meet the demand.
The city’s high number of empty homes is a problem that the government needs to address. By setting a target of reducing the city’s empty homes rate to zero by 2040, the government will be able to solve the city’s housing crisis and improve the city’s economy.