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Plan for affordable homes backed in Hammersmith
February 24, 2009 12:00 PM
Vince Cable MP, Treasury spokesperson
Merlene has welcomed plans launched by the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable MP and Shadow Housing Minister Sarah Teather MP to boost affordable housing and avoid home repossession.
The plans include:
• providing refurbishment loans for owners of empty homes if the homes are leased to housing associations,
• 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 homes up to social housing standards,
• making sure the courts allow repossession only as a last resort.
"Currently about 40% of housing stock in the borough do not meet national decent home standards which is shocking" says Merlene Emerson. "It is apparent that the social landlords in the borough need to invest more in their existing properties and start putting the interest of tenants at the heart of their service."
"The current recession is an opportunity to rectify the huge gulf that has developed between market and affordable housing within the borough and our new policies will go some way to making this happen."
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