More than 40,000 empty homes a ‘wasted resource’ in Wales

  • Wales
Credit: ITV News

43,028 homes are currently empty in Wales, with at least 18,000 empty for more than six months, according to data obtained by ITV News.

Rhondda Cynon Taff has the highest number of empty homes - 4,195 - while Torfaen has the fewest at 674.

Shelter Cymru described unoccupied properties in the face of a national housing shortage as a “wasted resource” which can “blight” communities.

A currently empty house in Rhondda Cynon Taff. Credit: ITV News

The Welsh Government says it provides ongoing support to bring empty properties back into use, by funding and supporting a variety of schemes.

One of those is Homestep Plus, which buys up empty homes and renovates them before selling them on to first time buyers. Operated by the housing association United Welsh in conjunction with Rhondda Cynon Taff council, it sells the homes at 70% of the open market price.

“The challenge that we have is trying to engage people”, said Michelle Collins of United Welsh.

How many homes are empty in your area?

  • Blaenau Gwent - 1573

  • Bridgend - 1408

  • Caerphilly - 2729

  • Carmarthenshire - 2646

  • Ceredigion - 1220

  • Swansea - 4054

  • Cardiff - 3223

  • Conwy - 2976

  • Denbighshire - 738

  • Flintshire - 1650

  • Gwynedd - 2216

  • Isle of Anglesey - 840

  • Merthyr Tydfil Council - 1134

  • Monmouthshire - 991

  • Neath Port Talbot - 1546

  • Newport - 2184

  • Pembrokeshire - 2570

  • Powys - 2082

  • Rhondda Cynon Taff - 4195

  • Torfaen - 674

  • Vale of Glamorgan - 770

  • Wrexham - 1609

Source: Freedom of Information requests.

The Welsh Government says that it has an "ambitious" commitment to building 20,000 affordable homes.

See more on this in Richard Morgan’s report, tonight on Wales at Six.