The British Property Federation has today suggested that councils and the Government should tackle the UK social housing situation by renovating the 1 million empty houses located throughout the UK.

Says the Federation's Chief Executive, Liz Peace, in urban development publication, Rudi, "Renovating empty homes is an opportunity for the government to get people of housing waiting lists and into ‘good as new’ homes; it will also save them money in the process." This may also provide more opportunities in the long-term for those in social housing jobs. 

Given there are 450,000 fewer social houses available in the UK than there were 10 years ago, it seems making use of empty houses is a viable solution to the nation's housing problems.  Leaving houses empty has its own problems, attracting squatters and increasing the risk of vandalism, arson and fly tipping; and by reusing an older property, 1/3 of the carbon emissions released by creating new builds are saved.

Peace is conscious of the Governments' recent cuts to the Houses & Communities Agency's budget - covering some £450million and costing them 2 important home-building programmes.  "...the need to supply new homes doesn't go away - renovating empty homes is a certain way of providing homes.", claims Peace. 

If the Government takes the advice of the federation, it is hoped the same incentive payments (from new-builds) would be available to councils - providing extra motivation to take part.  The Government's latest consultation publication suggested that councils that build new houses will received payments equal to council tax revenue from the properties for some 6 years after they are built. 

According to Inside Housing, this revenue will be invested into community services, which may motivate the public to back these developments.  Housing Minister Grant Shapps supports this - "Local communities will now have a reason to say yes to new homes, because they will benefit from better local services, or perhaps the redevelopment of their town centre in return for new housing.", said Shapps.