Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of properties in the Married Quarters Estate (i) nationally and (ii) in Greater London are unoccupied; and what rent is paid annually for those properties.

As at 6 June 2016, there are 10,187 void properties across the UK, 7,680 of which are owned by Annington Homes Ltd, out of a total stock of 49,699. This gives a proportion of 20.5% of properties void nationally.

If the 7,680 properties owned by Annington Homes Ltd remained void for the whole year, then the Ministry of Defence (MOD) would pay £32.8 million in maintenance and rent.

In Greater London (within the M25 corridor), there are 328 void properties out of a total of 2,245, which gives a proportion of 14.6%.

If the 314 properties owned by Annington Homes Ltd in Greater London remained void for the whole year then the MOD would pay £1.3 million.

Departmental policy is for 10% of properties to be void, and we will reduce the existing 20% to 10% from a combination of disposals, demolitions, leasing and housing of Service personnel returning from Germany.