RECENTLY released data shows that hundreds of homes across the Test Valley have been vacant for more than six months.

This is amid a housing crisis that has left scores of people across England trapped in temporary accommodation.

Data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities shows that at least 206 homes liable for council tax in Test Valley had been unoccupied for at least six months at the most recent count in October.

It meant that the number of homes gathering dust for at least half a year has increased by 20 per cent from 172 in 2021 but has fallen 38 per cent compared to 331 in 2012.

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The properties deemed long term empty were among a total of 866 vacant homes counted in the borough in October.

Meanwhile, across England, there were 676,500 vacant properties at latest count, with 248,600 of these lying empty for six months or more.

National campaign manager of Action on Empty Houses Chris Bailey said: “After more than a decade of intense housing crisis it is shocking to see long-term homes in England rise to 250,000 – another 11,000 wasted empties, while nearly 100,000 families are trapped in temporary accommodation, costing the nation over £1.5b a year.

“A new national empty homes programme is long overdue – the Government needs to step up to the plate and offer funding and incentives to get these homes back into use.”

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Test Valley Borough Council cabinet member for housing and environmental health Cllr Tracey Tasker said: “The council has an empty housing policy in place, and this acknowledges that long-term empty homes are a wasted resource.

“The number of long-term empty homes in Test Valley is the second lowest of all local authorities in Hampshire and represents 0.4 percent of all homes in the borough.

“While we would like to reduce the number of empty homes wherever possible, there are often various legitimate reasons why a property may be empty for a period of time, and in those cases the council’s remit is limited.

“A common reason is that either the property is subject to probate, or the occupants have gone into hospital or a care setting and are not in a position to make long-term decisions about the future of their property.

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“In many cases there is a council tax surcharge against long-term empty homes, and provided that is being paid and the property is not causing any public health nuisance, there is very little action the council can take.

“Where a property is empty on a long-term basis and has been left to become dilapidated, or is attracting antisocial behaviour, the council will attempt to work with the property owner to encourage them to bring the property back into use.”