One in Eight Norwich Households On Housing Waiting List

4.21.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 1st Jul 2009

Latest figures reveal that nearly one-in-eight households in Norwich are stuck on the housing waiting list. In 2008, 6999 households were on the waiting list compared to 2948 households in 1997. At the same time, millions of pounds of tenants rents in Norwich are being paid back to the treasury in 'negative subsidy' - rent collected above the treasury's calculated need for local authorities.

Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South, says that the housing problem needs Government action now to address the issues.

"It's quite shocking that the housing waiting list in Norwich has more than doubled since Labour came to power.

"While there is an urgent and growing need for more investment in Norwich's council housing, money which could be used locally is being swallowed up by the treasury. Norwich tenants are paying a stealth tax of around £6 million to the Government because of the complex funding rules for council housing.

"While the Government is sending out encouraging signals that housing finance could addressed, no legislation is planned. Councils need control now over housing budgets and more freedom to work with private developers. People in Norwich waiting for housing need action as quickly as possible, not further consultation and delay. Labour has already had twelve years to sort this out."