Very informative and the vacancy rate stated here (12.77%) is marginally higher than the one SEE3 publishes.

Not sure I see what inaccuracies are being corrected though.

However you are right - £22k pa can not be justified. Not only in any business plan but more by the fact that potential tenants in this market are not taking up this offer at this level.

Particularly when you have to add construction completion and fit-out costs for the shell.

Further to my earlier suggextion about withholding Completion Certifcates on a block basis there is further potential actions the LA could take.

Whilst I am sure the original legislation was aimed at bringing empty housing back into beneficial use, perhaps councils could use existing legislation to take enforcement action such as compulsory purchase or enforcement of the sale of the property, where owners fail to bring their empty properties back into use

Councils could consider serving a property notice which starts enforcement action on a freeholder, leaseholder, agent or person managing a property.

That might focus the attention of those absentee landlords who hide behind laissez faire agents.