LONDON councils were today urged to end the "scandal" of nearly 100,000 homes lying empty while thousands of families struggle to find accommodation.The credit crunch, soaring repossessions and a glut of new-build flats have been blamed for an increase in the number of vacant properties, which campaigners say should be used to ease the housing shortage.More than 330,000 households are on local authority waiting lists in London, according to the National Housing Federation.Today The Empty Homes Agency is calling on all London boroughs to step up their action to tackle the housing crisis.Chief executive David Ireland said: "At the very time people need more homes, record numbers are falling empty. There are now enough vacant homes in England to house almost two million people, yet far more attention is paid to building new ones."Councils have the power to step in and help, but can't do so unless they know where they are and won't unless they know people care."
LONDON councils were today urged to end the "scandal" of nearly 100,000 homes lying empty while thousands of families struggle to find accommodation.
The credit crunch, soaring repossessions and a glut of new-build flats have been blamed for an increase in the number of vacant properties, which campaigners say should be used to ease the housing shortage.
More than 330,000 households are on local authority waiting lists in London, according to the National Housing Federation.
Today The Empty Homes Agency is calling on all London boroughs to step up their action to tackle the housing crisis.
Chief executive David Ireland said: "At the very time people need more homes, record numbers are falling empty. There are now enough vacant homes in England to house almost two million people, yet far more attention is paid to building new ones.
"Councils have the power to step in and help, but can't do so unless they know where they are and won't unless they know people care."
Thirty years of Reaganomics and Thatcherism summed up in two sentences. Somewhere in cyberspace, the ghost of de Chardin is smiling.
