The Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames has been crowned the nation's 'Empty Homes' capital, with some 2,000 unoccupied properties. This Greater London borough tops a list of locations with the most vacant homes, highlighting how the blight on Britain's communities spans rich and poor areas alike.
Empty Homes Across the UK
There are an estimated 265,000 homes that have been empty for more than six months in the UK at any one time, according to Empty Property Hunters. Britain is in the midst of a housing crisis, and the London-based firm is on a mission to rid the nation of unoccupied homes, working with an army of 'hunters' to spot empty properties.
The Daily Star Campaign
The Daily Star is working with Empty Property Hunters to track down vacant houses. Hunters are paid £20 for every confirmed property they report. If Empty Property Hunters go on to sell the property, they stand to make 1% of the purchase price.
Top 10 List
Second on the list is the exclusive borough of Kensington and Chelsea – home to celebs and VIPs, the UK's most expensive place to live where average homes cost £1.25 million. Meanwhile, the nation's cheapest place to buy a home, Burnley – where average homes cost £128,826 – makes the bottom of the top 10 list.
Kingston's Hidden Story
Granted its royal title in 1927, first place Kingston is steeped in history and is home to some of the county's best schools, a university, and a huge shopping centre. Average house prices are £572,000, and while average salaries sit around £48,000, the affluent borough is a popular commuter hub for London's high-powered execs and officials. A detached house in the trendy southwest borough would set you back an eye-watering £1.26 million, while a humble terrace nearly £600,000 in today's market.
But behind the prestigious façade hides another story. Nestled among the six-figure town houses and trendy riverside flats lie vacant properties that no one currently calls home. Of the borough's roughly 70,500 dwellings, some 2.8% are believed to be unoccupied, suggesting some 1,974 homes are currently without occupants.
Examples of Empty Homes
One such home found on Canbury Park Road in the borough has stood empty for around a decade, becoming ever more overgrown and weather-worn with each passing year. The inside is piled high with boxes and belongings, a lifetime's worth of wares left to gather dust in the home neighbours say is little more than a forgotten storage facility.
Meanwhile, in one of London's most prestigious addresses, just a stone's throw from world-famous Harrods in Knightsbridge, sits another empty home. Refurbishment has stalled at the five-storey townhouse on Trevor Square, with little visible activity for several months, according to Empty Property Hunters. And over in Burnley, a two-bed terrace is now boarded up after being broken into and fires started since standing empty following the death of its owner.
Founder's Statement
Empty Property Hunters founder Simon Taylor said: 'Rich area, poor area empty homes are found in all corners of the country, proving no neighbourhood is immune. From stalled building projects and hoarder houses to once-loved homes that have become a target for vandals, empty properties are a problem we can all help to fix. If you're aware of a vacant home, or spot one while you're out and about, get in touch – you could make an easy £20 – and stand to rake in even more if we go on to buy it.'
How to Report
To report an empty residential property, visit emptypropertyhunters.co.uk/dailystar.
