Derelict houses ”to be turned into social homes”
The housing minister has announced new funding in order to help those with local government social housing jobs to salvage empty homes which have fallen into disrepair – or disrepute.
John Healey pointed out that empty homes are often used as dens for anti-social behaviour such as drugs or vandalism.
He said that £1 million in funding would be going to help councils deal with the problem, with 17 local authority areas known to be particularly stricken getting extra support.
The derelict homes will be renovated and restored as social properties, creating up to 10,000 front line social housing jobs.
"Councils already have strong legal powers to force the owners of empty properties to act and if necessary take over homes, but these powers are often neither used or understood properly," Mr Healey said.
He added that empty and run-down homes were "a blight on communities".
The housing minister announced last week that guideline rents for councils homes would be halved in 2010 and 2011.
