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Make use of empty homes - Tories | Make use of empty homes - Tories |
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The Conservatives say thousands of empty properties across the UK could be used to house those "languishing" on waiting lists for affordable homes. | The Conservatives say thousands of empty properties across the UK could be used to house those "languishing" on waiting lists for affordable homes. |
An estimated 4.5 million people are waiting for social housing, a figure the Tories say is "unacceptable" and likely to rise as the economy weakens. | An estimated 4.5 million people are waiting for social housing, a figure the Tories say is "unacceptable" and likely to rise as the economy weakens. |
Existing regulations on building design should be relaxed to allow unoccupied properties to be used, they argue. | Existing regulations on building design should be relaxed to allow unoccupied properties to be used, they argue. |
Labour has spent £2.2bn for modernising council houses in parts of the UK. | |
The Pathfinder project, designed to improve housing stock in the north of England and the Midlands, was launched by John Prescott in 2003 and intended to run until 2018. | |
Amid concerns that ministers' house building targets will be scuppered by the economic downturn, Labour also plans new financial incentives for councils to build affordable homes. | |
Gordon Brown said last month councils should be able to borrow against their assets to fund a new wave of home building and keep returns for rental agreements and future home sales. | |
Housing shortage | Housing shortage |
The Tories said Friday's announcement on exploiting existing housing stock was one of many measures required on housing if current problems were to be sorted out. | |
Government figures show that the number of new social homes for rent coming on stream every year has halved since 1997, the Tories say. | Government figures show that the number of new social homes for rent coming on stream every year has halved since 1997, the Tories say. |
The recession has forced developers to scale back affordable housing projects and the sharp growth in repossessions over the last year has made the lack of low-cost public housing even more critical, they add. | The recession has forced developers to scale back affordable housing projects and the sharp growth in repossessions over the last year has made the lack of low-cost public housing even more critical, they add. |
It would be extremely fast compared to getting planning permission for new homes Grant Shapps, Conservative housing spokesman | It would be extremely fast compared to getting planning permission for new homes Grant Shapps, Conservative housing spokesman |
But the party says the government's attempts to fill the gap by buying up homes from developers, under a scheme known as the National Clearing House - have failed to have much impact. | |
To tackle this shortage, shadow housing minister Grant Shapps proposes making use of the large number of properties across the UK which he says are lying idle. | To tackle this shortage, shadow housing minister Grant Shapps proposes making use of the large number of properties across the UK which he says are lying idle. |
An estimated 943,000 properties are currently unoccupied, a situation which the Conservatives blame on failures in the planning system during the boom years which encouraged developers to build flats in city centres. | An estimated 943,000 properties are currently unoccupied, a situation which the Conservatives blame on failures in the planning system during the boom years which encouraged developers to build flats in city centres. |
Although some of these properties are currently the subject of repossession orders or other legal disputes, thousands could be brought back to the market relatively easily and quickly. | Although some of these properties are currently the subject of repossession orders or other legal disputes, thousands could be brought back to the market relatively easily and quickly. |
To allow this, the Conservatives say existing rules governing the size of properties, their suitability for certain kinds of users and what facilities they offer should be temporarily eased. | To allow this, the Conservatives say existing rules governing the size of properties, their suitability for certain kinds of users and what facilities they offer should be temporarily eased. |
The current requirement for properties to comply with codes on sustainability - in terms of the materials they use and the impact on the external environment - should also be suspended. | The current requirement for properties to comply with codes on sustainability - in terms of the materials they use and the impact on the external environment - should also be suspended. |
"Some of the rules and regulations in this area are needlessly restrictive," said Mr Shapps. | "Some of the rules and regulations in this area are needlessly restrictive," said Mr Shapps. |
"Whether there is an extra large door or a shower downstairs are of limited importance." | "Whether there is an extra large door or a shower downstairs are of limited importance." |
More flexibility | More flexibility |
Housing associations should think more flexibly about the tenancy arrangements they offer, Mr Shapps adds, to capitalise on the availability of the housing stock. | Housing associations should think more flexibly about the tenancy arrangements they offer, Mr Shapps adds, to capitalise on the availability of the housing stock. |
Local authorities should also be given more freedom to match people with suitable properties, not just awarding the first property available the person on top of the waiting list. | Local authorities should also be given more freedom to match people with suitable properties, not just awarding the first property available the person on top of the waiting list. |
The Conservatives accept some of properties in question will require investment in order to make them habitable. | The Conservatives accept some of properties in question will require investment in order to make them habitable. |
However, they say that the funding for this is available within existing government budgets for new social homes which is currently not being spent. | However, they say that the funding for this is available within existing government budgets for new social homes which is currently not being spent. |
Mr Shapps said it was clear that this would not "eradicate" the waiting list for social housing but that it would be a start, adding that the sole focus on building new homes was a "mistake". | Mr Shapps said it was clear that this would not "eradicate" the waiting list for social housing but that it would be a start, adding that the sole focus on building new homes was a "mistake". |
"It would be extremely fast compared to getting planning permission for new homes," he said of the proposal. | "It would be extremely fast compared to getting planning permission for new homes," he said of the proposal. |
"We could realistically see people being housed within two or three months which would be fantastic." | "We could realistically see people being housed within two or three months which would be fantastic." |