Today in Housing Questions, Joe Morris MP raised serious concerns about the growing number of empty council houses across Northumberland, despite thousands of people still on the waiting list for social housing.

The question comes after a Freedom of Information request made by a local newspaper revealed that in February of this year there were more than 300 Northumberland County Council owned homes standing empty.

“At the end of January, there were 14,000 people still on Northumberland County Council’s social housing waiting list. Yet, there are hundreds of properties right across the county, including in Allendale, that remain empty. With people on the housing list in desperate need of accommodation, it is a disgrace that the Conservative administration has left them empty for so long.

“Does the Minister agree with me that a Labour council backed by this Government would do better to prioritise getting people off the housing waiting list?”

“Frustration is growing in communities across our constituency as residents just don’t see an end in sight to their wait for social housing.

“My office is frequently contacted by constituents who despite their needs are burdened with a lengthy waiting period for a council house, or by those who are allocated housing that just isn’t suitable for their situation. Everyone deserves the dignity of a stable, comfortable, and adequate place to call home.

“It simply isn’t good enough that council owned homes lay empty while there are 14,000 local people still in need of safe and secure homes. This mismanagement of social housing has to end.”