THERE are more than 100 homes in Ceredigion which have been sitting empty for 10 years or more according to new research.

A Freedom of Information request by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that 109 homes in Ceredigion have been vacant for 10 years or more.

There are also 143 homes which have been out of use for five years or more, and 284 homes which have been out of use for two years or more. A total of 1,021homes are currently out of use across the county.

Nationally, Liberal Democrat leader Vince cable has labelled the figures ‘a scandal’.

Ceredigion cabinet member for lifestyle services, Cllr Rhodri Evans, said: “In 2017-18 there are 1,021 properties on the empty property register in Ceredigion. This is a steep increase in the figure over previous years due to a national review having been carried out.

While the number of empty dwellings has not in itself increased dramatically, rather the number now reported on has widened.

The reasons why empty properties are such are varied and returning empty properties back into use is not an easy task. Each property inevitably has its own set of difficulties, not least the cost effectiveness of the solution. Factors such as family issues, the remote location of the property or legal restrictions can also hinder returning an empty property into use.

The Council uses a range of options to proactively bring empty properties back into use. Specifically, the use of the Houses into Homes Empty Property Loan has been a tool in assisting the renovation of dwellings although local take up of this option has been disappointingly low despite it being widely promoted.

Furthermore the council has recently agreed the council tax premium whereby empty properties and second homes which have been so for over 12 months are now subject to a 25 per cent increase charge.”

In Pembrokeshire, 120 homes have been sitting empty for 10 years or more. There are also 357 homes which have been out of use for five years or more, and 799 homes which have been out of use for two years or more. A total of 1,741 are homes currently out of use.

In Carmarthenshire, 194 homes have been empty for 10 years or more. There are also 328 homes which have been out of use for five years or more, and 502 homes which have been out of use for two years or more. A total of 2,667 are homes currently out of use.