Despite 20,000 on waiting lists for housing and rapidly rising rents, a staggering 1,040 homes in Bolton have been empty for more than two years

A staggering 1,040 homes in Bolton have remained empty and unfurnished for more than two years. councillors have heard. In total there are 4,419 homes in the borough currently unoccupied.

In Bolton, there are around 20,000 people on the ‘Homes for Bolton’ waiting list managed by the council, with an average 18-month waiting list for three-bedroom houses.

The rental market has also seen rapid rises recently. In just three years, rents have outstripped earnings growth twofold, with the average monthly let increasing from £569 in December 2020 to £789 in December 2023.

The council has recently appointed a empty homes co-ordinator who will advise owners on ways to reduce the amount of time their property remains empty and begin enforcement action if the property is negatively affecting the locality. Councillors also heard the frustrations that instead of bringing unoccupied house and flats back into use, many empty homes were sold by social landlords to property developers in the private sector who then refurbished them before renting out or selling.

The figures were revealed at a full council meeting when the matter was brought up by Liberal Democrat councillor, Roger Hayes. He said: “Many of us are amazed at how many houses appear to be empty.

“Not just for a few weeks but for a long time. “If these numbers could be reduced it would do a lot to reduce the current housing shortage.”

Responding , cabinet member, Martyn Donaghy, said: “I am exasperated when I see empty properties, particularly in the social landlord sector where we are told it’s not financially viable to put them back into use.

“Yet a private contractor come a long refurbishes them. “It seems to work for them but not for social landlords.

“There are currently