Thousands of homes lying vacant in Bolton - and this is what is being done to bring them back into use to solve the housing crisis Empty properties OWNERS of the thousands of homes lying empty in Bolton are being helped to bring them back into use to help solve the housing crisis. Action of Empty Homes says 2,238 homes in Bolton were not being used as of October, up from 2,010 the year before — according to its analysis of Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Of these 1,689 were long term vacancies, unoccupied for at least six months, and 549 were second homes.