Affordability issues, exacerbated by the current economic conditions have placed greater emphasis on the need to tackle empty homes. Currently, there are 1.8 million households on the social housing waiting list and over 762,000 empty homes, around half of which have been empty for more than six months.
The debate is running until 30 July to address key challenges that local authorities face tackling empty homes, highlight innovative practice and generate practical solutions to help the sector bring more empty homes back into use. A series of films have been produced to spark debate and provide the latest thinking from industry experts including:
* Jon Hough – Principal Housing Strategy Officer, Leeds City Council
* David Ireland – CEO, Empty Homes (EH)
* Sir Bob Kerslake – CEO, HCA
* Katharine Hibbert – Ex-squatter and author of Free: Adventures on the Margins of a Wasteful Society
* Steve Hoey – Co-ordinator, Canopy Housing
* Andrew Wells – Estate Agent, Allsop
* Ceri Barraclough – Marketing Sales Executive, Camelot Property
Homes and Communities: LINK
