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Vacant houses 'must be occupied' Vacant houses 'must be occupied'
(about 5 hours later)
The social development minister has said she wants to see more of Northern Ireland's vacant properties occupied.The social development minister has said she wants to see more of Northern Ireland's vacant properties occupied.
There are currently 40,000 vacant houses in Northern Ireland. Margaret Ritchie said more than 4,000 of them could be let overnight.There are currently 40,000 vacant houses in Northern Ireland. Margaret Ritchie said more than 4,000 of them could be let overnight.
She said owners whose properties needed major refurbishment would be receiving letters outlining what improvement grants were available.She said owners whose properties needed major refurbishment would be receiving letters outlining what improvement grants were available.
"I have invested £40m in grants for the uplift of houses," she said"I have invested £40m in grants for the uplift of houses," she said
"We will be writing out to all those people who own those empty homes affording them the opportunity to apply for an improvement grant, whereby adding to the number of houses that will be available for allocation that will deal with the record levels of homelessness.""We will be writing out to all those people who own those empty homes affording them the opportunity to apply for an improvement grant, whereby adding to the number of houses that will be available for allocation that will deal with the record levels of homelessness."
The minister will be interviewed further on the subject of housing in Northern Ireland in the Politics Show at midday on BBC 1.