THOUSANDS of dwellings are being left unoccupied across Denbighshire, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data has shown.

Numbers taken from the ONS census in 2021 found that there are 7,780 empty homes across the county.

Unoccupied dwellings are units of accommodation that have no usual residents.

Some may be used by short-term residents or visitors as second homes, while some are truly vacant – i.e. no indication of being used as a second home and are not inhabited by short-term residents.

On Census Day - March 21, 2021, there were 1.5 million unoccupied dwellings in England and 120,450 in Wales.

This is 6.1 per cent of all dwellings in England, and 8.2 per cent in Wales.

The full figures for Denbighshire are below:

  • Prestatyn North – 2,715 occupied, 1,055 unoccupied, 1.06 per cent holiday homes
  • Prestatyn Central & East – 2,290 occupied, 330 unoccupied, 0.38 per cent holiday homes
  • Prestatyn South – 2,495 occupied, 105 unoccupied, 0 holiday homes
  • Rhyl North – 4,280 occupied, 1,755 unoccupied, 0.75 per cent holiday homes
  • Rhyl South West – 2,170 occupied, 610 unoccupied, 0 holiday homes
  • Dyserth & Tremeirchion – 2,845 occupied, 405 unoccupied, 0.46 per cent holiday homes
  • Rhuddlan & Bodelwyddan – 2,865 occupied, 835 unoccupied, 0.95 per cent holiday homes
  • St Asaph & Trefnant – 2,360 occupied, 525 unoccupied, 1.39 per cent holiday homes
  • Denbigh West – 2,245 occupied, 180 unoccupied, 0 holiday homes
  • Denbigh East & Pentre Llanrhaeadr – 2,705 occupied, 145 unoccupied, 0.35 per cent holiday homes
  • Llandyrnog & Llanarmon-yn-Iâl – 2,610 occupied, 565 unoccupied, 0.79 per cent holiday homes
  • Ruthin – 2,630 occupied, 170 unoccupied, 0 holiday homes
  • Corwen, Llanelidan & Efenechdyd – 2,210 occupied, 340 unoccupied, 0.98 per cent holiday homes
  • Llangollen & Llandrillo – 2,890 occupied, 760 unoccupied, 1.65 per cent holiday homes

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A Denbighshire County Council spokesperson said: “Denbighshire County Council’s Tax Unit records show 688 empty private properties in the county, as defined by the Welsh Government's Public Accountability Measures (PAMs) 013 for local authorities. Private second homes are excluded from this definition.

“Additionally, the figures published by the ONS were collected in March 2021 during the coronavirus pandemic, and the ONS has expressed caution that the empty property figures may be inflated due to people living with parents, overseas residents returning home, and other lockdown-related restrictions.

“The council work closely with the Empty Homes Officer and is committed in supporting the council’s Corporate Plan to encourage homeowners not to leave their properties empty, and to bring them back into use for the benefit of the local community and economy.

“The recent increase in the long-term empty council tax premium from 2024 was introduced to encourage owners to bring homes back into full time use to increase affordable housing within Denbighshire.

“To further assist owners of vacant houses, the council offers schemes such as the opportunity to reduce VAT on all materials used in renovation work.

"Welsh Government also provides various grants and loans with the same goal of revitalising empty properties.”