For immediate release

Friday 13th February 2009

Empty Homes Agency Welcomes Conservative Empty Homes Plan

The Empty Homes Agency welcomes new Conservative proposals for tackling
Britain’s empty homes crisis. "Empty Properties - Tackling Britain’s Social
Housing Crisis" is launched today.

David Ireland, Chief Executive of the Empty Homes Agency, said:

“These proposals would give a real boost to housing associations and enable
then to be much more active in buying and renovating run down empty
homes.”

With the housing market now too weak to tackle the problem alone it is vital
that housing associations get back to what they are best at: creating
affordable homes through regenerating neighbourhoods”

He added:

“These proposals also offer the potential for small grants to kick start short-life
housing schemes, which are so badly needed as an alternative to boarding up
empty homes.”

We think that it is also important to also address the ludicrous VAT situation
which means that renovating many empty homes incurs full VAT whilst
building new homes is zero-rated. ”

[Ends]

Notes

The Empty Homes Agency estimates that empty homes across the whole of
the UK stood at 943,000 in 2008. And reported earlier this week that they are
rising at the fastest rate for seventeen years.
For more details or to arrange an interview, please contact:

David Ireland, Chief Executive

020 7022 1867
07941 451550 (m)
david.ireland@emptyhomes.com

Henry Oliver, Policy Advisor

020 7022 1869 (w)
020 7231 3128 (h)
henry.oliver@emptyhomes.com