Owners of empty properties across Epsom and Ewell are being contacted by the council.

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%.