Charities expected to take ‘huge risks’ over empty homes

THE Government expects housing charities to take “huge financial risks” to try to use the glut of empty properties lying idle to house people on localauthority waiting lists.

Housing charity Respond has accused the Department of the Environment, which runs a long-term leasing scheme, of refusing to modify the terms of the scheme to make it workable.

Under the Government’s plan, led by Housing Minister Michael Finneran, thousands of unsold houses built in the boom could be used as social housing.