The council says there are more than 250 families from the borough in temporary accommodation.

There are a further 1,300 people on the council’s housing needs register.

The authority has identified 64 properties that have been empty for more than 2 years and wants them brought back into use.

Homeowners still pay tax on empty homes and council tax on a house that has been empty for more than two years has increased to 200%.

Those empty for more than five years increases to 300%.