HUNDREDS of homes in Colchester have been empty for six months or more, figures show.

Housing charity Action on Empty Homes has warned empty homes reveal the “stark reality” of the country’s “broken” housing market.

In September, there were 650 long-term empty homes in the area.

Action on Empty Homes campaigns to bring more empty properties back into use for people in need of housing.

Government statistics do not include derelict properties which could be refurbished, or second homes that are rarely occupied.

Tina Bourne (Lab), who is the Colchester councillor responsible for housing, said the authority is keen to bring empty houses into use.

She added there were a number of reasons houses can be empty.

She said: “There will be houses which have no formal owner, for example if someone has died and the family is deciding what to do with their property.

“Those properties can remain empty for a number of years and sadly that is quite common.

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“It could be a house of multiple occupation which is being renovated - the figures count each unit individually, so if it has eight rooms it would be eight units, not just one.

“Some are social housing where the tenant has moved out and there is work going on.”

She said the council is keen to bring dilapidated homes back into use.

Councils do have the powers to force landlords to let them use properties.

Mrs Bourne said: “Dilapidated homes attract unwanted attention and could lead to antisocial behaviour.

“We will try and contact that landlord and pressure them.”

The majority of the long-term empty properties were low-value houses in the bottom two council tax bands, which made up 55 per cent of the total.

Next year local authorities will have the power to double council tax on homes left empty for two years or more - a premium capped at 50 per cent.

In Colchester the council charged a premium on 176 longer-term empty homes.