Empty flats in London – level 1

Empty flats in London

28-09-2026 15:00

Many people in London do not want to buy flats today. In the past, people wait in lines to buy them, but now many flats stay empty for months.

Buying a flat is very expensive. It is expensive to build a flat. Also, banks want a lot more money. Many owners are sad. They cannot sell their homes. Some flats have broken gas pipes or dangerous walls from old fires. Owners do not fix the problems quickly.

Because of these problems, many young people cannot move to bigger homes. The government is trying to make buying homes cheaper and safer for everyone.

Difficult words: empty (with nothing or nobody inside), owner (a person or organization who something belongs to), pipe (a long tube to carry water or gas to homes).

You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.

What reasons does the text give for many flats staying empty for months?

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