According to a survey yesterday which appeared in the UK’s ‘Guardian” newspaper, there are 11 million empty, unused or abandoned homes in Europe.
This is a huge number when compared to the approximately 4 million homeless people. According to the (ISTAT) data reported in the Guardian, the figures are about 2.7 million for Italy while Spain, which came top, had 3.4 million. This was followed by France, with 2 million, Germany with 1.8, and the UK with 700,000. The article explains that this is due to the majority being vacant second homes, disused, or homes built during the housing boom that have remained unfinished or unsold. According to the Sole 24 Ore, which reported the news, Italy has 24.5 million occupied homes, 2.4 million are second or third homes and 0.4 million properties are newly built or under construction. These overall numbers are alarming, especially when compared to the number of homeless people, and so, says the Guardian, these disused properties should be used.
Edited by GM