Too Many Empty Houses

A Halifax Bank report has shown 289,000 properties are sitting empty for more than 6 months. This is more than the Government's aim for new properties being built per year - 240,000.

Lack of available properties is generally blamed for house price rises and the figure unoccupied long term has fallen slightly. But critics are saying that the house price problem is caused by too many new builds targeting the wrong buyers, leaving a shortage of family homes.