Many areas of the North West have an empty housing problem

There are more than 136,000 unused properties in the region, the country's biggest mortgage lender Halifax said.

The survey said six out of 10 people were worried about the number of empty houses and just under half feared a derelict or unused house near them would hit the price of their own property.

Just over 80% said they wanted the government to pay for repairs while 49% thought owners should get funding or tax breaks to make their house habitable again.

'Fine balance'

About half of those questioned also thought local authorities should be able to take possession of an empty property after six to 12 months.

Phil Jenks, head of mortgages at Halifax, said: "Re-introducing empty homes into the UK housing stock is certainly part of a solution to address the current shortage of housing - predicted to be a chronic shortfall of some 500,000 homes by the year 2020.

"However, there is a fine balance to be achieved here.

"Halifax would support any Government policy which would help to re-introduce empty housing stock at the right pace and in the right places."