Hundreds of homes in Copeland and Allerdale have been sitting empty for more than six months, amid a housing crisis. 

Campaign group Action on Empty Homes called the latest figures "shocking", after they revealed long-term empties across the country have risen to the highest level in a decade outside of the coronavirus pandemic.

Data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities shows at least 468 homes liable for council tax in Copeland had been unoccupied for at least six months at the most recent count in October.

Chris Bailey, national campaign manager for Action on Empty Homes, said: "After more than a decade of intense housing crisis it is shocking to see long-term empty homes in England rise to 250,000 – another 11,000 more wasted empties, while nearly 100,000 families are trapped in temporary accommodation, costing the nation over £1.5 billion pounds a year.

"A new national empty homes programme is long overdue – the Government needs to step up to the plate and offer funding and incentives to get these homes back into use."

However, it meant the number of homes gathering dust for at least half a year has decreased by 2% from 477 in 2021, and 38% compared to 759 in 2012.

The properties deemed long-term empty were among a total of 1,035 vacant homes counted in Copeland in October.

They also found 647 homes liable for council tax in Allerdale had been unoccupied for at least six months at the most recent count in October.

This meant homes left unattended for at least half a year has decreased by 6% from 690 in 2021, and 30% compared to 926 in 2012.

The properties deemed long-term empty were among a total of 1,661 vacant homes counted in Allerdale in October.

A DLUHC spokesperson said the Government is "taking action to get empty homes back into use" and added that the number of long-term empty homes is lower than when records began in 2004.

They said: "The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill gives councils power to apply the 100% council tax premium on properties left empty after a year, rather than the current two years. This will provide local leaders with additional flexibility to help address the impacts of empty homes."