Forum Brief: Affordable housing

Property owners with homes empty for a long time would be forced to release them for affordable renting under government legislation likely to be announced soon.

Forum Response: Shelter

Adam Sampson, director of Shelter said: “We must end the waste of empty homes allowed to fall into disrepair when they could be used to provide much needed good quality temporary housing. We must give councils the power to do this through compulsory leasing. Today’s amendment shows the government how to achieve this through the Housing Bill.”

Forum Response: Countryside Agency

A spokesman for the Countryside Agency said: The shortage of affordable housing in rural areas is a direct result of the limited availability of properties available at an inexpensive rent or purchase price.

Building new homes is not the only solution - making better use of existing properties is also important.  In addition to empty homes, there are many disused farm properties and empty space above or attached to commercial premises that could be turned into residential use.

"The Countryside Agency is funding two affordable housing directors through Business in the Community to work with property owners to identify new opportunities to provide additional affordable housing capacity."

Forum Response: Construction Products Association

Allan Wilen, economics director at the Construction Products Association,said: "The Association is encouraged that the government appears to be now be giving greater attention to ensuring more effective use of the existing housing stock.

"Whilst long term vacant properties account for a small proportion, around 1.5 per cent, of the existing housing stock, they can often have a highly visible and disproportionate impact upon the surrounding area, as well as denying households a potential home.

"However, whilst we welcome the government’s objective of bringing vacant private sector homes back into use, local authorities and other public sector bodies must also continue to work bring their vacant properties back into use.

"Furthermore we believe that any government initiative should be part of a wider programme to support greater investment in the existing housing stock as part of its strategies for talking fuel poverty and improving overall housing supply.

"This should include the introduction of a five per cent VAT rate on repair, maintenance and improvement work to encourage homeowners both to better maintain and to improve or extend their homes."