Empty Homes Crisis Must Be Tackled 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

There are currently over 8 000 on Medway’s housing waiting list, many of whom have been there for years.  However, at the same time there are 3 000 properties standing empty across the towns.
The Council has been slow to act on this issue, and Labour’s Planning Spokesperson, Cllr Nick Bowler, believes that more must be done.  The Labour Government has recently introduced incentives, such as reduced VAT costs for refurbishments, which will make it easier for the Council to encourage redevelopment.
After a recent presentation by a KCC officer on their ‘no use empty’ campaign, Cllr Bowler is calling on the Council to introduce a similar plan.
Cllr Bowler said,
“This issue has concerned me for many years and I’ve been pressing the Council to do more.  Recently I undertook a ward walk with council officers and the police to identify empty properties, and I hope that we can start to tackle the problem in Rochester East.”
“So far, the Tories have paid lip service to the idea of bringing empty homes back into use, but has done very little.  We must remember that every empty house brought back into use means another family has a home, and one less house needs to be built in the towns.”
“At a recent working group, we had a very good presentation by an officer from KCC, describing the millions they’re investing in their ‘no use empty’ campaign.  This is tackling the uninhabitable houses in various districts, and if they can do it, why can’t we?”