Simon call to buy cheap homes

A CHARITY working for the homeless has urged the Government to take advantage of the recession by buying some of the thousands of vacant houses and apartments left unsold in the property slump.

The Simon Communities of Ireland says that with census figures showing about 15% of private dwellings unoccupied across the country, the time is perfect for a bargain buy-up that could put a huge dent in the number of families awaiting social housing.

Simon Communities chief executive Patrick Burke said some 43,000 families and individuals were on local authority housing waiting lists, while in Dublin alone there were an estimated 10,000 unsold private apartments, almost half of which had two bedrooms.