The number of empty properties in England has fallen to a 10-year low, the government has claimed.

As of October 2013, there were 635,127 empty homes across the country, down by around a fifth since 2009 and their lowest level since 2004.

There was also a fall in the numbers of long-term vacant properties, down by around a third over the past four years, from 316,251 in 2009 to 216,050 in 2013.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: “Empty properties can blight entire neighbourhoods, becoming a magnet for antisocial behaviour when they should be family homes.

“So I’m pleased to see that the efforts we’ve made to bring these homes back into use have helped bring the numbers down to a 10-year low, with the number of long-term empty homes down by around a third since 2009.

“This is on top of the wider efforts we’re making to get the country building, with 420,000 new homes delivered since 2010 – including 170,000 affordable homes.”