LISTEN: Steve Grimshaw, Programme Manager for No Use Empty at Kent Councy Council - says there's been a steady decline in the number of empty homes in the county - 17/10/18

Kent's done better than any other part of the UK in getting empty homes lived in again.

More than 500 properties in the county, that had been vacant for a long time, were brought back into use during 2017, according to new figures.

A programme - called No Use Empty - started in 2005 with the aim of having 9-thousand properties lived in again, so far five and a half thousand have been brought back into use.

Steve Grimshaw is the programme manager.