There are 2,500 names on the local housing register, including 70 to 80 homeless, and the council wants to use empty properties to house as many as possible of those seeking a better place to live.

Compulsory purchase is an available weapon which the council can use against landlords, and this option will not be ruled out if other measures do not work.

At a time of continuing high demand for residential property in the borough, the council is starting 2008 with the launch of its second Empty Property Strategy, effective until 2010.

Cabinet member John Rogers, who has responsibility for housing matters, said: "By launching this latest strategy, Worthing Council is illustrating its strong commitment to bring empty, under-utilised residential properties back to use to benefit the whole community.

"The earlier measures we have introduced have been effective and this latest strategy builds on those by offering help, advice and guidance to owners wishing to return properties to use, including valuable property grants.

"While we have always adopted a supportive approach to this subject, we are prepared to use enforcement measures to ensure that properties do not remain idle and deteriorating, thus causing a blight on local communities.

"Worthing will only target owners of long-term empties who persistently refuse to take action, whilst properties awaiting sale, refurbishment and those the subject of probate will not be affected."

The council says empty properties blight the local community, and bringing them back to use makes complete sense to the advantage of all.

About half of Worthing's 900 private-sector vacant properties have been empty more than six months.

The continuing pressures on greenfield sites in the borough mean that bringing empty property into use is a high priority.

Empty properties can also be an eyesore and encourage anti-social behaviour.

Martin Howard, the council's dedicated empty properties officer, told the Herald that full council tax was, in general, now being charged on properties empty for more than six months.

Mr Howard said the council offered free refurbishment and letting advice, and landlords wanting to improve their properties to let to people on the waiting list could receive pound-for-pound expenditure grants of up to £10,000.

The council could even help the landlord to sell a property, rather than leave it empty.

Anyone wanting a copy of the strategy, owners seeking help and residents wanting to report empty properties should contact Mr Howard on 01903 221326.