A London MP has criticised the new high-profile Empty Homes Strategy, saying it will not help solve the homelessness crisis in London.

Speaking at the launch of a report, Unlocking the Potential of London鈥檚 Empty Homes, at City Hall, MP for Regent鈥檚 Park and Kensington North Karen Buck said that the empty homes gained through the strategy will not necessarily match the needs of the homeless or temporarily housed families, due to their size and location.

She said: 鈥淲e have to integrate the Empty Homes Strategy with a homelessness strategy or else we will still be here in a few years discussing the same problems.鈥�

She also called the high number of ex-right-to-buy properties that are re-let back to housing associations a 鈥渟candal鈥� because of the high prices associations had to pay.

The report by the Empty Homes Agency established a Local Authority Empty Homes Charter, which it, along with the Greater London Authority and Association of London Government, want local authorities to commit to.

It sets out a ten-point checklist that they believe would significantly reduce the number of empty homes.

Source

Housing Today