New research by the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) has found that thousands of buildings owned by local authorities spent time empty during 2022 and 2023.
The TPA, which campaigns for lower taxes, found that at least 4,908 council-owned non-residential properties were vacant for all or part of the two-year period.
It said councils spent £88.5m during that time insuring, securing, maintaining and renovating the buildings.
The number of empty properties increased since the TPA last conducted the research, rising by 11.2% since 2016-17 for councils that provided data both times.
TPA researcher Shimeon Lee said: ‘Taxpayers will be amazed by the property portfolio that has been built up by big-spending town hall bosses.
‘But what will really shock residents is the number of local authorities who have allowed prime real estate to sit vacant, despite complaining incessantly about the perilous state of their finances.
‘Councils across the UK need to carefully review their assets and ensure they develop a strategy for any that are being under-utilised.’
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