The places in the UK with the most spare rooms

With the Cotswolds having the largest number of ‘empty bedrooms,’ The Times asked me to comment on this piece about why downsizers need to be encouraged to move to free up large country houses desperately needed by families.

However, persuading retired homeowners whose grown-up children have fled the nest to downsize is proving to be quite a challenge.

A challenge that has led to repeated calls for incentives (stamp duty cuts, for one) to persuade older people to move out of their homes. The expense of moving is also a disincentive to selling. I explain that many of these homeowners have lived there for 25 to 30 years, during which time the stamp duty levies have increased quite significantly, so the cost burden is just too high for them.

Older residents are in some cases keeping larger houses to look after grandchildren while their offspring, who would otherwise be hobbled by high childcare costs, go to work. I am aware of several residents in this position, many of whom do overnights for their grandchildren as well.