Government fails to tackle empty homes says AM. (Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen Liberal Democrats)

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Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen Liberal Democrats <Brian.Thomas@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk>

Government fails to tackle empty homes says AM.

January 27, 2009 12:00 AM
Originally published by Welsh Liberal Democrats

The Welsh Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson, Peter Black has slammed the Welsh Assembly Government for its failure to address the issue of empty homes, after it was revealed that only 265 houses were brought back into use in the last year for which statistics are available.

In response to a written question submitted by the Welsh Liberal Democrats, the Assembly Government admitted that despite there being 18,454 vacant private sector dwellings in Wales on 1 April 2007 only 265 unoccupied properties were returned to the market during that year,

The Welsh Assembly Government may also be grossly underestimating the figures; private research by Shelter Cymru has led them to estimate that there are 24,500 vacant properties in Wales. According to Welsh Liberal Democrat research there are currently 87,000 households in Wales on the waiting lists for affordable housing.

Peter Black has previously argued to the Minister that landlords should pay higher council tax on empty homes, unless they are willing to make the house available for renting.

Peter Black said:

"While thousands of properties lie empty and unused, the Welsh government is failing to cope with the rising number of people on affordable housing waiting lists across Wales.

"There are more than 18,000 properties empty in Wales and yet the Government's response is to bring just 265 houses back into use. The Minster needs to outline a clear strategy for local authorities and housing associations to make use of these empty homes.

"By charging extra council tax to houses empty for more than two years the government would be providing an incentive for landlords to make use of their properties, by returning them to occupation.

"Every house that is empty is a wasted opportunity to give a family a proper place they can call home."