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Monday, March 22, 1971
The rate of occupation during 1970 was calculated at 844 units
per month which was less than the 1,046 units per month taken up during
1969. But, these "demand" figures do not provide a very reliable guide
in a sellers' market where rents and purchase prices asked tend to be
high and a proportion of what is vacant is in the older unattractive blocks,
Completions late in the year also influenced the vacancy figure. Completions
for October to December 1970 were up considerably on the corresponding
period a year earlier and approximately 51 per cent of all vacancies noted in
January 1971 were in respect of premises certified for occupation during the
previous three months.
A better guide to the continuing demand is provided by an examination
of the average period premises remained empty following the issue of an
occupation permit. The month by month occupation figures for premises completed in January, 1970, indicated that the average period premises stayed
vacant was 1.84 months compared with 1.91 months the year before, which
suggests there has been no slackening in the demand for accommodation.
In respect of the various domestic classifications, Mr. Cooke notes
that despite the extreme shortage of "luxury-type" flats, the occupancy rate
for large flats, expressed in relation to what was available, was only 57
Here again, per cent while for houses it was lower still at 35 per cent. "late" completions tend to influence the result, as 66 vacant large flats are in one block in the Peak district certified for occupation only at the
end of November, 1970.
/The supply