23
Nov
Buyers may welcome empty property figures
People looking to climb on the property ladder may welcome news
that the number of properties that have been empty for more than
six months rose to exceed 300,000 in 2008.
This represented the first time that this threshold has been
breached in five years, according to figures from Halifax.
In a statement, the financial services provider noted that there is
something of a north-south divide when it comes to properties that
have been empty for an extended period of time.
The north-west had 66,691 structures that have been vacant for more
than six months, which accounts for just under a quarter (22 per
cent) of empty homes across England.
Meanwhile, 1.1 per cent of properties in London, the south-west and
the south-east have been unoccupied for this period of time.
The most recent Halifax House Price index indicates that the
average price of a property in October was £165,528.