I thank Nick Hearn, who congratulated Brighton and Hove City Council's empty property team for returning more than 2,000 private-sector empty properties in the city back into homes since 1993. In Brighton and Hove, 85 per cent of vacant properties are owned by private landlords.

The empty property team has found the best way to get properties back into use as decent homes is to work closely with the owners to provide advice and support about renovation work, grant funding and leasing. The council also works in close partnership with housing associations, community groups and business forums to help turn empty properties into homes. The team is working on a database of flats above shops which could be used as homes for families in Brighton and Hove in the future.

During the past twelve months, the focused approach of working directly with the owners returned 121 empty private-sector properties back into use as homes. We are continuing to look at various options that will enable more empty property to be brought back into use in the city so our successful work can be continued.

-Coun Tehmtan Framroze, Chairman of Brighton and Hove Private-Sector Housing Forum