PARTS of Southampton are turning into "ghost towns" as growing numbers of student houses are left empty during the long summer holidays, ministers warned today.

The Government launched a review of shared housing amid concerns over the impact of so-called "studentification" on many university towns.

Southampton, Nottingham, Loughborough and Bristol have seen increasing numbers of rented properties lying empty outside term-time, forcing local shops and pubs to close, the Department for Communities said.

Housing Minister Caroline Flint said: "It is not acceptable that in too many areas, people living in houses in multiple occupation and local communities alike are having their quality of life affected.

''We must have balanced, sustainable communities," she said.

"I want to know what more we can do to provide the right housing in the right place, guarantee proper living conditions for all, and ensure our towns are places people want to live and work in over the long term."

The Department for Communities said too many shared student houses in one area can have a negative impact on the neighbourhood as student turnover is often high.

Landlords are increasingly choosing to concentrate student houses closer together in university towns, exacerbating the problem, officials said.

The review will investigate how the planning system can create "more effective management" of such shared homes.

The Government said universities were trying to minimise the impact of student houses on their local areas by building new halls of residence and hiring community relations officers.

Loughborough University now requires its students to sign a code of conduct.