Renovation of empty homes urged

Home renovation should be on the top of the housing agenda in the south-east, a housing conference has been told.

Empty Homes Agency policy advisor Henry Oliver told the conference there were 80,000 empty homes in he region which could be brought back into use, the Chartered Institute of Housing reports.

He said there should be a national target for this endeavour and local authorities should have their progress towards achieving this goal monitored.

Such moves could have a major effect in boosting the renovationindustry, with householders occupying such homes adding their own finishing touches to such buildings.

Last month the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) said the Empty Homes Agency and others had joined it in calling for a cut in DIY for tools and work for home improvements.

This call had urged the government to reduce the VAT rate from 17.5 per cent to five per cent.


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