More affordable homes needed in West Sussex (South East Region Liberal Democrats)

South East Region Liberal Democrats <info@southeastlibdems.org.uk>

More affordable homes needed in West Sussex

February 25, 2009 2:52 PM

Liberal Democrats in West Sussex have welcomed plans to boost affordable housing and avoid home repossession.

The plans, launched by the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable MP and Shadow Housing Minister Sarah Teather MP, include:

providing refurbishment loans for owners of empty homes if the homes are leased to housing associations for at least five years,
boosting the amount of private housing for rent including using empty commercial property temporarily as housing,
bringing in a new type of secure mortgage to help boost lending to house buyers,
letting councils and housing associations buy up unsold private houses and allowing them access to funds to bring them up to social housing standards,
making sure the courts allow repossession only as a last resort.

Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the County Council, Morwen Millson said, "Many people in West Sussex are struggling to get their own home or are facing repossession because of the recession. We must do all we can to help residents through these bad times.

"I have asked the County Council to work with local District and Borough Councils and developers to try to get house building moving again. Although this is not a good time for councils to be selling assets such as land, it may be an excellent time to invest in putting buildings on the land. This will also help keep local building firms afloat and keep skilled workers in employment.

"Many homes built just before the recession started lie empty, often because the banks are not lending to people wanting to buy. Yet there are many people needing a place to live. We want to unblock the system and our plans will help to do that.

"Giving housing associations and councils the opportunity to buy up empty homes that builders cannot sell will mean hundreds of local families will be able to rent a place of their own.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister, Sarah Teather 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.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said:

"We are facing a repeat of the Tory recession of the 1990s, with tens of thousands of families facing repossession in the year ahead.

"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."