Boris to tackle the blight of London’s empty homes

Leaving homes empty is unacceptable and blights areasBORIS Johnson believes leaving homes empty is not only unacceptable, but causes neighbourhoods to be blighted, attracting vandalism and creating eyesores. The Mayor has announced �22 million to tackle this problem with East London to receive nearly �6 million to bring empty homes back into use

Dear Ed,

BORIS Johnson pledged to tackle the blight of empty homes in London. He believes leaving homes empty is not only unacceptable, but too often causes neighbourhoods to be blighted, attracting vandalism and creating eyesores.

The Mayor of London recently announced �22 million to tackle this problem with East London set to receive nearly �6 million in Tower Hamlets, Newham, Barking & Dagenham, Waltham Forest, Redbridge and Havering to bring empty homes back into use.

Across London, this investment will see more than 1,300 abandoned, derelict and blighted properties brought back to residential use.

By 2011, around 3,400 empty homes will be brought back into use, bringing improvements to social rented and private sector homes on some of London’s most deprived housing estates.

The funding will cover practical measures to encourage owners to repair and bring their properties back into use at a fraction of the price of building a new home.

Richard Blakeway

Director of Housing, Mayor of London’s Office

City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, Southwark