EMPTY HOMES ARE BACK IN USE IN LAMBETH

Only 1.1% of Lambeth Living's habitable homes are now empty, the lowest level reached in Lambeth on record. This achievement means that over 700 families are now enjoying homes, which stood empty a year ago.

This significant reduction in void properties has largely been achieved as a result of Lambeth Living's repairs and maintenance provider Morrison's work in the centre and south of the borough since April when the ALMO's new repairs contracts went live. Over the past seven months Morrison has completed and returned 359 homes to Lambeth Living ready to be re-let to new tenants.

Not only has this performance enabled more families to be housed in the borough but it has also helped Lambeth Living to achieve its voids target thereby releasing new funding streams which will enable future investment in the housing stock.

Gary McFarlane, Account Director for Morrison Lambeth said: "In April, Lambeth Living impressed on all of its new contractors the need to deliver a high performance in voids and to significantly reduce the number of empty properties in the borough. Morrison took up this challenge and we have successfully completed all of the voids within our area on time. In addition to this, we have also taken on voids within the south of the borough to help ensure that Lambeth Living meets its target.

"With housing waiting lists across England at an all time high we are very pleased that together with our partner Lambeth Living we have been able to significantly reduce the number of empty properties within Lambeth this year."

Keith Hill, Chair of Lambeth Living, said: "I'm pleased with the huge reduction in the number of void properties in Lambeth. This has been a tremendous collective effort by all our contractors and our staff at Lambeth Living and as a result of this effort we now have some seven hundred families enjoying homes that stood empty a year ago."