The letter sets out four asks, including calling for a national empty homes strategy, a short-term and holiday lets register, stronger enforcement powers and powers to locally set council tax charges for empty homes. The action coincides with National Empty Homes Week, which is a national push to bring empty homes back into use as affordable housing for people who need it.
The housing crisis is having a huge impact on people across Lambeth, London and much of the rest of the country. The issue is critical locally with Lambeth Council currently housing one in 30 of all households in temporary accommodation in the country, and there are more than 35,000 residents on the borough’s social housing waiting list.
Lambeth Council has already launched an Empty Homes and Voids Action Plan to bring new focus to tackling empty homes and voids in the borough. But is now calling for the measures and powers to go further.
The letter has been co-signed by Cllr Danny Adilypour, Lambeth’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, Investment and New Homes, and Cllr Dr Mahamed Hashi, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Safer Communities.
It was sent to Matthew Pennycook MP, the Minister for Housing and Planning and Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Rushanara Ali MP, Minister for Homelessness.
The Lambeth councillors wrote: “We are committed to working collaboratively with government to ensure that policies and resources are aligned with the needs of our communities. In no policy area is this more pressing than on housing.
“These proposals represent practical, achievable steps that would make a tangible difference in unlocking much needed local housing and improving outcomes for residents.”
To read the full text see below:
