Labour sets out today how it will tackle the scandal of empty homes.Despite the country facing the biggest housing crisis in a generation, there are still 635,127 empty homes across England.Just weeks away from Christmas it is a scandal that there are 84,000 children living in temporary accommodation, including bed and breakfasts, while so many homes lie empty. As of October 2013 there were 2430 empty homes in the Bridgwater and West Somerset Constituency, according to the Council Tax base.
Cllr Mick Lerry said: “Labour has a 5 point plan to tackle the scandal of empty homes. This includes:
1. Increase empty home penalties
2. Clamp down on empty-home loopholes like “buy to leave”
3. Ensure new homes are advertised in the UK first, not overseas
4. Help generation rent by introducing long-term tenancies with predictable rents and banning letting agent fees on tenants
5. Get at least 200,000 homes built a year by 2020”.
Emma Reynolds MP, Labour’s Shadow Housing Minister, said: “We face the biggest housing crisis in a generation but there are still hundreds of thousands of homes standing empty.
“In the run up to Christmas, with 84,000 children without a permanent roof over their head, it is a national scandal that there are nearly eight times as many homes standing empty.
“Labour has a plan to get 200,000 homes built a year, offer a fairer deal to private renters and greater powers for local councils to clampdown on the scandal of empty homes.”
Cllr Mick Lerry-Leader of the Labour Group on SDC
Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Bridgwater and West Somerset.
Email: michael.lerry@btinternet.com
Mobile: 07775905080