It is shocking that there are over 1700 long term empty homes in our area say Lib Dem candidates
LIB DEMS BRIGHTER FUTURE CAMPAIGN - 23 DAYS TO POLLING DAY
Lib Dems announce plans to tackle the growing number of long-term empty homes in East and Mid Suffolk Districts
The Liberal Democrats have announced that they would allow local councils to increase council tax by up to 500% on empty homes that are left empty long-term.
The latest Government statistics show that there were a total of 1781 homes left empty long-term in Mid Suffolk, Suffolk Coastal, Waveney and Ipswich in October 2018.
In response, and as part of its plan to alleviate the housing crisis, the Liberal Democrats would legislate to allow Mid Suffolk, East Suffolk, Waveney and Ipswich to increase council tax by up to 500% where properties are being left vacant long-term. The revenues would then be reinvested to build new homes for the community or to invest in local services.
Commenting on the announcement, Liberal Democrat Candidates standing in Suffolk Coastal and Central Suffolk & North Ipswich added..
"People across Mid Suffolk,Suffolk Coastal Waveney and Ipswich are worried about the lack of genuinely affordable homes. But they are being priced out of the local area because of the shocking rise of empty homes. Wealthy owners are treating these properties as financial assets rather than a place to live. This demonstrates a complete lack of regard for the impacts on local people. The Liberal Democrats will fix the housing market and tackle the issue of empty homes in our area. We will ensure that everyone is secure in their home and delivering a brighter future for our country."
Jules Ewart, Liberal Democrat candidate for Suffolk Coastal where there were 590 empty properties registered added,
"When you add the issue of vacant properties to the increase in second home ownership in areas such as Southwold and Aldeburgh - properties which often lie empty for most of the year - we are sleepwalking into a future where our communities become ghost towns."
Liberal Democrat candidate for Central Suffolk & North Ipswich, James Sandbach said, "The contradiction between the rush for housing development without planned infrastructure in our towns and villages and leaving properties empty elsewhere is a travesty. Rural communities in places like the Mid Suffolk are turning into ghost towns and villages due to a rising numbers of empty houses and second homes; at the same time we see lots of new executive housing development encouraged whilst housing stock and properties (often in better keeping with our heritage) aren't fully used and occupied."
Source
Council Tax Base; Oct 2018 / Long-term vacancy is defined as over 6-months.
Breakdown= Mid Suffolk DC -283/Suffolk Coastal DC*- 590/Waveney DC*- 540/ Ipswich Borough -368.
* these two District Councils merged in 2019 to form the East Suffolk District Council
Published by Keith Dickerson on behalf of Jules Ewart (Liberal Democrats) both at The Cottages,Bridge Street, Kelsale, Saxmundham IP17 2P
Published by Gary Kitching on behalf of James Sandbach (Liberal Democrats) all at Harvest Barn, Church Farm, Clay Hills, Framlingham, Suffolk, IP13 9JJ
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