New Lib Dem plans to rebuild social housing sector (Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats)

Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats <info@wantagelibdems.org.uk>

New Lib Dem plans to rebuild social housing sector

February 20, 2009 12:16 PM

Sarah Teather MP, Shadow Housing Minister

The Liberal Democrats have launched new plans to greatly increase the supply of social housing, stem the tide of repossessions and rescue the beleaguered construction industry. Wantage and Didcot spokesman Alan Armitage said: "Having enough affordable housing is the number one issue for us in Oxfordshire. Falling house prices are not going to solve this problem, particularly when repossessions are soaring and new mortgages are hard to get. The Government should stop wasting time and effort with their grand but deluded plans for so-called eco-towns. They need to listen to these proposals."

The new plans include:

· Introducing a Repair and Renewal loan scheme for owners of empty properties if they agree to lease them for at least five years to housing associations

· Allowing commercial properties temporarily being used for housing to claim commercial property rate relief

· Helping lending to return to normal levels by introducing basic 'Safestart' mortgages

· Allowing housing associations and local authorities to use Homes and Communities Agency funds to improve newly purchased unsold private housing stock

· Slowing repossessions by ensuring courts make them the absolute last resort

Launching the proposals, Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister Sarah Teather MP said: "Millions of families have been let down by Labour's housing failures. As the recession deepens, social housing queues are growing ever longer while the construction industry has ground to a halt. Renovating empty and abandoned properties can provide low cost homes while boosting the struggling construction sector. Councils and housing associations must be able to access funds to bring abandoned properties back into use. Companies with empty commercial property need incentives to make it available for temporary housing, which will provide cheap accommodation and prevent it from falling into disrepair."

Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable MP added: "We are now facing a repeat of the Tory recession of the 1990s, with tens of thousands of families facing repossession. With only a small portion of the 75,000 houses that are predicted to be repossessed in 2009 covered by the Government's scheme, there is a real danger that we will see thousands of people kicked out of their homes over the next 12 months. It is critical, not only for those who may lose their homes but also for the wider economy, that we have a comprehensive plan to ensure that repossession is only ever a last resort."

"In the future, people must have access to low risk, simple mortgages which ensure that those who have sensible deposits are protected from negative equity."