Thousands of homes in Sussex are standing empty, according to Government figures.
They reveal almost 11,000 are unused in East Sussex and Brighton and Hove.
The figures, in a Commons written reply, came despite increasing reports of a crippling housing shortage.
They showed most of the empty houses were in the private sector.
On April 1 2000 a total of 2,483 homes were empty in Brighton and Hove, 2,178 of them privately owned.
A total of 196 belonged to the council and 81 to registered social landlords.
In Hastings the figure was even higher, with 3,286 homes standing empty.
Some 3,184 were council owned and 102 belonged to registered social landlords, such as housing associations.
Rother had 2,237 empty homes, 2,106 private and 130 belonging to social landlords.
Wealden had 1,018 - 937 private, 50 local authority and 25 belonging to social landlords.
Lewes had 573 empty homes - 42 council, 11 social landlords and 520 private.
Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper wants private landlords to be hit with penalties unless they have a good reason for properties being out of use.
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