The number of void properties available for re-let declined from 399 to 211 (47 per cent) between October 2015 and October 2016, a new report by Martin Smith, the council’s area housing manager, states.

In July 2016, the number of empty properties was 177 - the lowest void figure since August 2012.

The average number of days to re-let void properties has declined from 104.6 days during 2015/16 to 56.8 days.

Due to the faster letting process, the council is losing “considerably less rent” due to the voids with their rate reducing from 1.66 per cent in 2015/16 to the current rate at 1 per cent.

Mr Smith wrote: “Having now cleared a significant backlog of long term voids from October and into April, we are confident that the improving trend will be sustained towards our 42.1-day target.”