Bradford named in list of 20 worst areas for empty social housing (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford named in list of 20 worst areas for empty social housing

2:39pm Tuesday 9th February 2010 in

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Bradford has been named and shamed on a list of the 20 worst areas where hundreds of social housing properties are lying empty – despite the thousands of people on waiting lists.

Government figures show 497 social housing homes have been empty for more than six months, 1.6 per cent of the 31,896 housing stock.

It places Bradford as the joint 16th worst authority for the proportion of its social dwelling stock laying empty for long periods, according to the information published by Communities Minister Ian Austin.

Bradford West MP Marsha Singh said: “I am well aware of the housing needs in my constituency. I am getting lots of constituents coming to me living in homes which are not good enough.

“It is disgusting the Council does not pull its finger out to help those in real need and there are many of them. It is an absolute disgrace.”

Incommunities – the biggest social housing landlord in Bradford – said many of the houses would be managed by other providers.

A spokesman said: “At Incommunities we continuously work to minimise the number of empty properties and the length of time any properties are left unoccupied.

“Over the past six years we have carried out an assessment of our stock of around 21,300 homes and have invested over £295m in modernising thousands of homes for the benefit of our tenants.

“This has also involved assessing the viability of investing in some empty and out-of-date stock and consulting with customers on the redevelopment options.

“Over 90 per cent of our long term empty homes are ‘obsolete’ and unpopular bedsits and flats. They do not meet current Government standards and are due to be redeveloped.”

Chris Brown, Bradford Council’s housing regeneration manager, said 8,000 of the 9,400 homes lying empty across the district are privately owned.

Many empty properties come back into use within a few months, according to the Council.

Mr Brown said: “Approximately 2.3 per cent of the district’s housing is recognised as long term empty homes. Which means just under 5,000 properties have been unoccupied for six months or longer. The Council is committed to reducing the number of empty homes.

“Our aim is to encourage property owners to get them back into use as quickly as possible.”

Middlesbrough ranked top with 4.5 per cent of its total social housing stock remaining empty for more than six months.

Mr Austin said: “The reasons for homes becoming and remaining vacant are varied. Numbers of empty properties should not be seen as a reflection of the approach by local authorities.”