CAMPAIGNERS CHALLENGE LONDON MAYORAL CANDIDATES TO PLEDGE ACTION ON EMPTY HOMES

The Empty Homes Agency threw down the gauntlet to the contenders for the London mayoralty on empty homes.  In an open letter to the candidates from the main parties, the EHA invited them to respond to its five-point London Empty Homes Challenge.

The London Empty Homes Challenge asked candidates whether they would pledge to do five things to help bring back into use the capital’s 86,000 empty homes and make better use of other under-used buildings to accommodate Londoners’ housing needs.  The Challenge asked candidates whether they would:

1. Set an ambitious target to cut empty homes in London

2. Prioritise action to tackle empty property as the most environmentally and heritage-friendly way of increasing London's housing supply

3. Actively encourage and support enforcement action by London boroughs where incentives fail to bring properties back into use

4. Promote and support the spread of ‘short life housing’ - temporary housing use of buildings awaiting re-use, refurbishment or redevelopment

5. Press London boroughs to abolish the remaining tax breaks for owners of empty homes

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All four candidates said Yes to all five questions in the London Empty Homes Challenge.  Some provided more information, so we reproduced edited highlights below.

David Ireland & Henry Oliver

Boris Johnson (Conservative)

“I want empty homes to represent just 1 per cent. of the total housing stock by 2011. … I strongly believe that with new ideas, and a committed campaign, we can really get to grips with London’s empty homes crisis.”

“I have identified a surplus in the Decent Homes grant, and will allocate a further £60 million up to 2011 to regenerating empty homes to house people on social housing waiting lists.”

“… I will undertake a Boston city-style audit of across London to identify where London’s empty and hidden homes actually are.”

“Encouraging buildings to be used for short life housing is very important.  I have outlined a number of new ways of doing this … [including] returning the Mayor’s precept which is levied on Council Tax when a local authority releases a property to a short life housing provider.  It is particularly important to target public bodies.”

“... as part of the London-wide audit, I will undertake the first complete evaluation of the GLA estate.  I will then publish, and act on, the results.”

“I will call on London councils to abolish the Council Tax discount after the first year of dormancy on privately-owned, long-term empty homes, to encourage their return to the housing stock.”

Ken Livingstone (Labour)

“The existing commitment in Ken Livingstone’s Housing Manifesto is to cut the number of empty homes from 2.75% to 2.5%. ... this is a commitment net. of any increases in supply – i.e. a real reduction of around 6,500 empty homes from existing levels.”

“Ken Livingstone supports in principle setting an ambitious target to cut the number of empty homes in London going beyond 2.5%.  However, he recognises the need to set a practical target, which does not distort the private housing market at a time of extreme uncertainty.  In particular, … [a much higher target] is likely to be (a) highly detrimental to those trying to sell their homes in times of uncertainty, and (b) unachievable, involving as it would interventions with management orders after as little as six weeks.”

“Ken Livingstone … will prioritise [action to tackle empty property as the most environmentally and heritage-friendly way of increasing London's housing supply] … through making resources available from the Regional Housing Pot for borough schemes that achieve this and for housing associations to purchase and renovate empty homes to provide family rented homes.”

“Ken Livingstone supports firm and effective use by Councils of both Empty Dwelling Management Orders and Compulsory Purchase Orders to bring properties back into use.”

“Ken Livingstone supports short life [housing] schemes and will encourage boroughs and housing associations to maximise their use.”

“As the Mayor’s draft housing strategy makes clear, Ken Livingstone would like to see all boroughs remove council tax discounts on empty homes.”

Brian Paddick (Liberal Democrat)

David Ireland, Brian Paddick, Shashi Ioannides & Henry Oliver

“I think it is very important to utilise empty property, as so many Londoners have nowhere to call home.  As Mayor, I will make this a priority.”

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For the Challenge PR click here >>

To view the letter to the candidates click here >>

To view the Challenge postcard with the answers click here >>

To view David Ireland’s Speech at the Launch of the results of the London Empty Homes Challenge 24th April 2007 click here