Thousands of empty homes in region adding to housing crisis

Nearly 40,000 empty properties in the North West, 3,500 of those are in Cheshire.

The National Housing Federation says that there are 3,500 empty houses in Cheshire, although figures are falling.

In 2008 the regional figure for empty homes stood at almost double today's headline at 73,888.

However, the disused properties are helping to fuel the wider housing crisis as demand for homes out strips supply and house prices and rents continue to rise.

The North West Home Truths 2017/18 report revealed that the average home in Cheshire West and Cheshire is now approximately £232,213.00 - that figure is eight times the typical local salary, making home ownership unaffordable for many.

On the rental market, the average rent is around £648 per month, which represents almost 30 percent of a private renter's income.

Rents are becoming increasingly expensive for those in receipt of housing benefits as well. Although it's estimated that 20% of these people are in work they still cannot afford to pay rent. 

Across the North West nearly 3,400 new homes were completed by housing associations last year, and work has already begun on almost five thousand more.

The National Housing Federation says that's still too few, and more needs to be done to recommission the abandoned address in the county to try to free up capacity and meet demand.

Ciaran Tully, External Affairs Manager for the NHF, said:

"The housing market has seen a relentless rise in the gap between house prices and people's salaries. Cheshire West and Chester is no exception. Attaining a mortgage is increasingly unrealistic and private sector rents make saving up that bit more difficult."