100,000 homes empty in London, says charity

LONDON councils were today urged to end the "scandal" of nearly 100,000 homes lying empty while thousands of families struggle to find accommodation.

The credit crunch, soaring repossessions and a glut of new-build flats have been blamed for an increase in the number of vacant properties, which campaigners say should be used to ease the housing shortage.

More than 330,000 households are on local authority waiting lists in London, according to the National Housing Federation.

Today The Empty Homes Agency is calling on all London boroughs to step up their action to tackle the housing crisis.

Chief executive David Ireland said: "At the very time people need more homes, record numbers are falling empty. There are now enough vacant homes in England to house almost two million people, yet far more attention is paid to building new ones.

"Councils have the power to step in and help, but can't do so unless they know where they are and won't unless they know people care."

The charity wants neighbours to report run-down and empty homes to its website - reportemptyhomes.com - which automatically informs councils. Local authorities have powers under the 2004 Housing Act to seize homes left unoccupied without good reason and rent them out as social housing.

The latest government figures show London had 84,596 empty homes in October last year, around 2.7 per cent of the total housing stock and enough for more than 200,000 people. Of those, around 17,000 are owned by councils, housing associations and other public bodies.

The Empty Homes Agency's research suggests the figure is likely to have risen "significantly" in the last year because of the downturn in the housing market.

As well as the sharp rise in repossessions, both large and small scale regeneration and refurbishment projects have stalled because of the credit crunch, meaning more homes are falling empty and staying empty, the charity said.

Examples it cites include 78 empty houses owned by the Department for Transport and Enfield council on a stretch of the North Circular. They were compulsorily purchased in the Seventies for a road widening scheme that never happened. Many are derelict.

More than 1,000 flats lie empty on the Ferrier estate in Kidbrooke. They are due to be demolished for redevelopment, but work has been delayed.

Mr Ireland told the Standard: "It's not simply that these houses are wasted. Empty homes are vulnerable to vandalism, arson and squatting and if you live next door you have no power to stop it.

"We need to make sure vacant properties are put to good use, which not only provides homes for people who need them most but also prevents the associated social problems. Action is needed now."

Last week Mayor Boris Johnson announced his draft £5billion housing strategy, including a £60million pledge to buy back or make more use of empty properties. Mr Ireland said the proposal was "unambitious" but a step in the right direction.

Mike Tuffrey, Lib Dem leader on the London Assembly, said: "It is a scandal that nearly 100,000 homes are empty when so many Londoners are on housing waiting lists. Mr Johnson and councils should be focusing their efforts on bringing these homes back into the rental sector as they offer by far the quickest route to helping families in need."