THOUSANDS of dwellings are being left unoccupied across Conwy, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data has shown.

Numbers taken from the ONS census in 2021 found that there are 5,750 empty homes across the county.

Unoccupied dwellings are units of accommodation that have no usual residents.

Some may be used by short-term residents or visitors as second homes, while some are truly vacant – i.e. no indication of being used as a second home and are not inhabited by short-term residents.

On Census Day - March 21, 2021 - there were 1.5 million unoccupied dwellings in England and 120,450 in Wales.

This is 6.1 per cent of all dwellings in England, and 8.2 per cent in Wales.

The full figures for Conwy are below:

  • Llandudno Town & Gogarth – 4,220 occupied, 885 unoccupied, 2.55 per cent holiday homes
  • Llandudno South – 2,985 occupied, 265 unoccupied, 1.23 per cent holiday homes
  • Penrhyn Bay – 2,740 occupied, 230 unoccupied, 1.52 per cent holiday homes
  • Rhos-on-Sea – 2,955 occupied, 390 unoccupied, 1.64 per cent holiday homes
  • Kinmel Bay & Towyn – 3,610 occupied, 220 unoccupied, 1.83 per cent holiday homes
  • Llandudno Junction North & Deganwy – 3,875 occupied, 415 unoccupied, 1.86 per cent holiday homes
  • Colwyn Bay North – 3,140 occupied, 430 unoccupied, 1.12 per cent holiday homes
  • Upper Colwyn Bay – 3,345 occupied, 200 unoccupied, 0 holiday homes
  • Old Colwyn & Llanddulas – 3,775 occupied, 260 unoccupied, 1.49 per cent holiday homes
  • Abergele – 5,370 occupied, 365 unoccupied, 0.52 per cent holiday homes
  • Llandudno Junction South & Llasanffraid Glan Conwy – 3,180 occupied, 235 unoccupied, 1.02 per cent holiday homes
  • Conwy & Afon Roe – 2,845 occupied, 455 unoccupied, 3.33 per cent holiday homes
  • Llanfairfechan & Penmaenmawr – 3,675 occupied, 385 unoccupied, 1.85 per cent holiday homes
  • Betws-yn-Rhos, Llangernyw & Llansannan – 2,790 occupied, 330 unoccupied, 1.76 holiday homes
  • Llanrwst & Betws-y-coed – 3,720 occupied, 685 unoccupied, 2.72 per cent holiday homes

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A Conwy County Borough Council spokesperson said: "Many properties are temporarily empty for a variety of reasons such as being in the process of being sold, new builds not yet occupied, estates going through probate and periods in between tenancies, and will come back into use naturally.

"But it’s estimated in Conwy County that around 1,500 remain empty for longer than six months.

"Conwy County Borough Council has an empty homes strategy which sets out the ways in which we can support owners of empty homes to bring them back into occupation.

"This could include advice on the options available, information regarding housing standards, or assistance with renovation – including grants and interest free loans to help bring the property up to a standard whereby it can be let or sold.

"Conwy Council also offer some leasing schemes to landlords which guarantee rent being paid.

"The council charges a council tax premium on second and long term empty properties.

"The premium on long-term empty homes is designed to encourage owners to bring those empty properties into use to support the increase of affordable housing for purchase or to let in local communities.

"The income is retained by Conwy to support the housing and homelessness budget."