The MORI study talked to owners of privately owned homes which are empty.

It found that 64% of the owners said they expected the property will eventually be sold or rented out, while 17% said they would live in it.

It found 40% expect the property to be occupied within 6 months, 17% in six to 12 months and 14% a year or more, with 21% saying they did not know.

The council areas where the survey was conducted included: Chelmsford, Great Yarmouth, Huntingdon, Ipswich, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Mid Beds, Norwich, Peterborough and South Norfolk.

Use of empty homes

The reason given by the majority of owners as to why the property remained empty was that it needed to be repaired or renovated.

In the survey 37% said work was in progress, with 17% saying work needed doing.

The second main reason given was that they were trying to sell the property.

The aim of the survey is to help local authorities bring empty homes back into use.