Many areas in the UK have high levels of empty properties in both the private and public (council) sectors.

Housing Associations in the UK are taking the initiative by buying housing stock from local councils and regenerating whole community areas.

I’m not sure of the figures, but I suspect that the total of empty council properties throughout the UK would far exceed the number of empty private properties. A lot of local councils are addressing this issue to some extent by refurbishing rundown property and then offering them on a bid basis – on their web site, local newspaper ads, etc - to anyone who wishes to apply for them (i.e. not just limiting the property to applicants on a housing registry). Councils are under a lot of pressure from central government to fill their void properties.

Empty private housing in some areas is also being bought by Housing Associations, often converted into multiple occupancy residences, especially in large cities where there is a lack of cheap rented accommodation for single people.