MORE tenants are being found for Bury Council's empty houses following a concerted 18-month effort.
The number of vacant properties has now dropped below the Government's target, from nearly 350 in December, 1999, to 170 today.
One reason was the introduction of an empty property telephone hotllne, which has taken 1,500 calls in the last nine months. The council has let 270 properties because of it.
Housing bosses say further improvements are on the way, including a new allocations policy.
Councillor John Smith, housing spokesman, said: "We have made significant in-roads and, with the other changes in the pipeline, we expect to do better yet."
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