Almost all of Caracas' streets empty of people by dusk as residents live under the pall of a homicide rate 20 times that of the United States.

NPR: Hugo Chavez Coffin Parades Past Venezuela's Ills

At present, empty industrial premises pay nothing, while empty offices and shops pay 50% of the full rate.

BBC: Business takes a tax hit

He said the council had brought back an average of 60 empty homes per year over the last few years and wanted to continue at the same rate.

BBC: Maidstone empty home owners 'could be forced to sell'