New homes 'left vacant'

The British housing sector is being affected by a new problem as increasing numbers of new-build flats are left empty by property investors, it has been claimed.

David Ireland, chief executive of the Empty Homes Agency (EHA), said that the modern phenomenon of 'buy-to-leave' is a growing affliction in the UK's urban areas, with many new properties left vacant despite the high nationwide demand for housing.

Mr Ireland claimed that the issue is beginning to counteract the number of homes being brought back into use as a result of improved planning regulations.

"The problem with this is that it's not quite as visual because they are up in the sky and there are no signs of dereliction," he explained.

According to the EHA, the vacancy rate of new developments in Leeds city centre is approximately 40 per cent. Salford Quays is another area suffering from the problem, Mr Ireland stated.

Last week, the EHA stated that the number of empty houses in England is slowly declining and currently stands at about 663,000.

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