Action on housing a priority — Shelter

HOUSING charity Shelter is warning MPs to expect housing problems to dominate their casework in the coming years.

A survey of 150 MPs from the last Parliament by ComRes revealed three quarters (72 per cent) of MPs agreed that housing is one of the top three problems raised by their constituents, while half (49 per cent) of all MPs agreed that housing is the most common problem that constituents seek assistance on.

Shelter say the economic down turn has had a huge impact on people’s ability to get a decent and affordable home, with latest figures showing about 8,600 families across Oldham on housing waiting lists.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: “Whether it is a young couple struggling to get their foot on the ladder, a family trapped in overcrowded conditions or someone facing eviction from their home, people of all backgrounds are in desperate need with their housing situation.

“As well as being a vital issue for local people, addressing the housing crisis must now be an urgent priority for the new Government.

“The Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties did not prioritise tackling the housing crisis during their election campaigns and we are extremely disappointed the housing minister is no longer in the cabinet.

“At the same time we are offering our expertise and resources to all new and existing MPs as they start the difficult job of dealing with their constituents’ very real housing problems.”

Nationally, 1.8 million households are on council housing waiting lists and over a million children are trapped in overcrowded housing.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas said: “We are anxiously awaiting a decision on the Housing market Renewal Fund. Prices of houses are set by demand. We need more houses on brownfield sites and we need state support as otherwise housing waiting lists will explode.”

Shelter fear the crisis will get worse over the coming months with 50,000 homes expected to be repossessed this year.