Empty Homes In Brent on the Increase - Teather
February 10, 2005 11:26 AM
Sarah Teather is fighting to tackle the housing crisis in Brent
Sarah Teather, MP for Brent East and Liberal Democrat London spokeswoman, today revealed that there are over 5,000 empty properties throughout Brent while nearly 1,000 are registered as homeless in the borough and 20,000 people on the Council's housing waiting lists.
The figures, revealed in Parliamentary answers to Miss Teather, show that the number of empty properties in Brent has gone up 6% since 1997, despite the huge need for more housing.
Commenting on this finding, Sarah Teather MP said:
"When there are 20,000 people on the waiting list for housing in Brent, to have over 5,000 properties sitting empty is of disgraceful. What makes it worse is that the number of empty homes has actually gone up since 1997, when the cost of a home has more than doubled.
"That is why the Liberal Democrats campaigned to have 'Empty Property Management Orders', which now allow councils to encourage property owners to bring homes back into use. As a last resort they also allow councils to refurbish and re-let empty properties themselves.
"Labour has really let Brent down with their shameful lack of new housing."
Notes
1. Answers to parliamentary questions asked by Sarah Teather revealed that the number of empty dwellings in Brent is as follows:
1997: 4,792
1998: 3,754
1999: 5,151
2000: 6,174
2001: 5,504
2002: 5,670
2003: 5,115
2004: 5,104
2. 956 people were registered homeless in Brent in 2003.
3. The Housing List for Brent Council stood at 19,227 in September 2004 (source: Brent Council).
4. Halifax plc has estimated that house prices in Brent East have gone up by 95% since 1999.
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