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Houses in Rudd Street, Lightbowne and Lordship Close, Colderbrook Walk and Tremain Walk Harpurhey are among 70 unpopular properties to be pulled down.

Council housing chiefs say low demand on estates has meant some blocks of properties have become almost completely empty. Tenants who still live there suffer a poor quality of life and many want move.

Senior housing officers say they have considered several options for the properties before recommending demolition as a last resort.

Options included repairing and re-letting but this was rejected because it was thought that would be a waste of money as it was unlikely people would be attracted to live in the homes.

Leasing to a housing association was not considered feasible due to the oversupply of these types of properties and a lack of demand.

Housing chiefs say the properties are unsuitable for furnished accommodation or supported accommodation as other properties in other locations offered better facilities.

Local councillors, tenants and residents associations, and the remaining tenants occupying the houses have been consulted and all support the demolition plans.

Manchester?s director of housing has recommended the houses be demolished and the sites cleared and landscaped.

Remaining tenants will be given re-housing priority and home loss compensation payments.

A housing official said: "It is unlikely any of these properties would be let if they were fully repaired. To retain them would drain available local budgets to keep them secure and repair vandalism. They would continue to blight surrounding properties."