22. To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate her Department has made of changes in the number of (a) repossessed and (b) empty houses in the last 12 months. (259906)

In the 12 months to December 2008 there were 40,000 repossessions in the UK. This compares to 26,200 in the 12 months to December 2007.

Source:

“Council of Mortgage Lenders”.

The number of long term empty homes in England as at 15 September 2008 is 328,000. This compares to 314,000 on 17 September 2007.

Source:

“Council Taxbase and Council Taxbase Supplementary (CTBl and CTBIS) returns from local authorities”.