BPF questions govt property action

Posted: 11 Sep 2009 11:07:03 GMT

Local government work on improving existing housing stock has not heralded the necessary results, according to a spokesperson for the British Property Federation (BPF).

Andrew Teacher said that targets "have been focused very much on easy tick-box schemes", as opposed to dealing with the existing problems in the sector.

His comments followed a report by the Audit Commission, which suggested that councils are being pressured into developing new-builds, rather than making improvements to the property that has already been constructed.

Indeed, 143 local area agreements have made new or affordable housing targets their priority, while less than one-third put their main focus on existing stock.

Mr Teacher explained: "A lot of the solutions can include empty homes, refurbishments and maintenance of existing stock, rather than just focusing on tick-box things."

A number of decisions have been made to score political points, he added, before suggesting there is no easy solution to change the situation.


© Houseladder Ltd