Scandal of 1,000 empty homes under Labour

10.17.08am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 14th Jun 2008

Labour Lambeth are to wreck this home rather than see it brought back into use

About 1,000 Lambeth Council housing properties are empty, meaning the Council is losing an estimated £5m a year in lost rent.

And a thousand homeless families, couples or single people could be housed if the Council brought them back into use rather than leaving them derelict and boarded up.

The shock borough-wide figures have emerged in a report to the Stockwell and Vassall housing forum.

Taking into account so-called "shortlife" properties the total of voids is 1,243.

The number has shot up in the last few months under discredited Labour control of Lambeth Housing.

The number of empty properties has soared as a result of the former, and now demoted, Labour Cabinet member John Kazantzis sanctioning a stop for three months on all works when tenants moved out - none could be made ready for re-letting even if only a clean and a check was required.

The new Labour Cabinet member, Lib Peck, told a Council meeting that she was "alarmed" at the number of boarded up properties on the borough's estates and streets.

"What an indictment of the record of Cllr Kazantzis, the discredited cabinet member," said Lib Dem Housing Spokesperson Cllr Jeremy Clyne. " After two years in his charge the Housing Department is a shambles. Even the new Cabinet member is appalled at the mess he's left her in."

"Soaring rents and charges, failing and reduced services, housing office closures, privatisation of council homes and services, and now this scandal of empty homes - what a legacy."