In reaction to a House of Commons report on empty homes, RICS director of policy Michael Chambers said: 'The usual response to the sight of row upon row of worn out and abandoned homes is to try to revive them with injections of cash. But this often fails. Some districts have become so run-down and stigmatised, and have such limited employment prospects for local people, that other solutions should be considered. This is particularly the case in some northern and midland cities where the problem is not one of a housing shortage, but housing in the wrong places.

'RICS strongly backs the need to invest in inner urban regeneration, but only where it is likely to work. The primary need is for government at all levels to detect early signs of creeping dereliction in a residential district, such as graffiti, junk on the streets, un-maintained and abandoned houses, and deteriorating quality of life. Intervention at this stage can stop the rot.

'But the authorities should make a hardheaded assessment of the potential success and cost-effectiveness of a regeneration programme. They will sometimes find that large-scale investment will simply not be viable, in which case demolition and an alternative land use must be seriously considered.'