The empty properties would be enough to accommodate all homeless households in the capital who are in temporary accommodation or bed and breakfast.

Local authorities and the Empty Homes Agency are to concentrate on working with private owners to bring the properties back into use.

Mr Livingstone also wants the council tax to be used to discourage owners from leaving homes derelict.

Empty homes

99,737 empty homes 83,053 privately owned 54,000 households in temporary accommodations 8,600 in bed and breakfast

The Mayor said it is the first time the number of empty and wasted homes has dropped below 100,000.

In 1998 there were 112,132 such properties.

But local authorities and the Empty Homes Agency have been making efforts to reduce the numbers.

People living in London are being asked to call a hotline to report any empty homes in their area.

Private owners mainly keep the properties as an investment or cannot afford to make them habitable.

The Mayor says he aims to bring another 2,600 empty privately-owned properties back into use in 2002/3.

He also wants councils to be allowed to charge full council tax on empty properties.