MAYOR HAS BEEN LAZY WITH EMPTY HOMES

3.29.04pm GMT Fri 22nd Feb 2008

The Mayor has agreed to change the way empty home targets are set following pressure from Dee Doocey, Housing Spokesperson for the London Assembly Liberal Democrats.

This week, Dee Doocey criticised the Mayor's housing strategy for not setting challenging targets for empty homes, with only a 2.5% vacancy rate needed by 2016. She highlighted the fact that this target could be met without a single empty home being returned into use, because of the expected increase in housing stock through new builds.

As a result of Dee Doocey's challenge, the Mayor agreed to move away from percentages to absolute figures. Commenting, Dee Doocey, AM said:

"We need a concrete target to cut the actual number of long-term vacant properties in half by 2016. This can only be done by measuring absolute targets rather than percentages. Following pressure from me, the Mayor has also agreed to change his current policy and apply this target to all homes, not just private homes. The Mayor must also work closely with boroughs to bring these homes back into use.

"Too many homeowners find it difficult to obtain good, consistent advice about the help that is available. We need a targeted, London-wide approach to this very serious problem."