NORTH WEST HOMES LYING EMPTY AS WAITING LISTS GROW
May 1, 2009 3:00 PM
Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell has today called for action after new figures showed that almost 70,000 homes across the North West have been lying empty for more than six months - at a time when housing waiting lists in the region having risen to nearly a quarter of a million.
Using figures obtained from the Empty Homes Agency and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), Mr Stunell's research shows that:
- One in 25 homes across the region is empty.
- 66,691 homes have been empty for six months or more, out of a total of 129,073 empty homes across the region.
- Greater Manchester has 26,970 homes empty for more than six months, whilst Merseyside has 15,260.
- In the meantime, council housing waiting lists across the region have rocketed to 234,559.
- The North West has the largest number of empty homes of any region in the country.
- In Andrew's area of Stockport, more than one in every 30 homes is empty, with 2,423 having been unoccupied for more than six months. In the meantime, the Council Housing waiting list has risen to 9,328.
Now Mr Stunell is calling for action from both local councils and Whitehall.
Commenting, Andrew said:
"These empty homes are a terrible waste, when there are almost a quarter of a million people on housing waiting lists across the North West.
"Everyone has the right to a decent home, and the Government is missing its big chance to help people out."
The Housing Act (2004) gave councils the power to bring empty homes back into use through Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMO's), but the complex legal process involved means they have been little used.
"We need action now, as the recession has stopped house-building dead, and the collapse of the mortgage market makes housing even more scarce," continued Mr Stunell.
"Stockport's use of Compulsory Purchase Orders has been effective, but they, and other local authorities, need greater support from the government if they are to solve this crisis.
"Local Authorities can start using EDMO's to bring more of the empty houses back into use - but they need money to do it. The government need to act quickly to reduce waiting lists and calm the current housing crisis before it gets further out of control."
ENDS
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