Empty homes in London drop by 3,000

The number of empty homes in London has fallen by more than 3,000 to the lowest level in recent years. London boroughs far exceeded Ken Livingstone's annual target to fill 2,600 homes.

Today the Mayor said returning empty homes to use was a "cost-effective" way to ease London's housing crisis and he increased next year's target to 3,500.

He said: "With the population of London expected to increase by 700,000 over the next 13 years, we can't afford to be complacent."